{"id":28510,"date":"2023-06-01T04:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-06-01T04:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.saatva.com\/?p=28510"},"modified":"2025-01-21T19:51:59","modified_gmt":"2025-01-21T19:51:59","slug":"cheese-before-bed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/cheese-before-bed\/","title":{"rendered":"Is It Bad to Eat Cheese Before Bed?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

If you\u2019re a cheese lover, there\u2019s a gouda <\/em>chance you\u2019ve eaten it as an after-hours snack. But whether it\u2019s really the best nighttime nosh is up for debate. Certain cheeses (such as cottage cheese) may improve your sleep\u2014while other types of cheese could potentially cause vivid dreams<\/a> that disrupt your snooze. However, there\u2019s really not much research on the impact cheese specifically can have on your sleep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, is it bad to eat cheese before bed? <\/em><\/strong>This article will explore the effects cheese may have on getting sound shuteye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is it bad to eat cheese before bed?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are pros and cons to eating cheese before bed. Here\u2019s what you need to know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How cheese may promote good sleep<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Dairy products, including cheeses, are rich in protein from whey, casein, and alpha-lactalbumin (A-LAC), contributors of tryptophan. [1]<\/sup> Tryptophan is an amino acid often blamed for Thanksgiving day meal fatigue<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That said, tryptophan is necessary for making serotonin and melatonin, sleep-promoting chemicals that naturally occur in your body. Cheeses high in tryptophan<\/a> that may benefit your sleep are cottage cheese and hard cheeses such as mozzarella, cheddar, and Parmesan. [2]<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whether provolone or Colby Jack, cheese has more nutrients that may be a friend to good sleep. Protein in cheese may help you sleep longer and balance blood sugar levels overnight. [3]<\/sup> Sleep disturbances can happen when blood sugar levels dip below normal. [4]<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Additionally, cheese is a good source of calcium, offering about 200 milligrams in one ounce of cheddar (15% of the daily value). [5, 6]<\/sup> Some studies suggest a link between poor sleep and low calcium intake; therefore, eating cheese may increase calcium levels over time to help get a better night\u2019s rest. [7, 8]<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How cheese may challenge good sleep<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

For most, eating cheese before bed may not be bad. But, for those with reflux issues or lactose intolerance, it may cause problems. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reflux, or acid reflux<\/a>, happens when your stomach contents travel back up the tube between your mouth and stomach, also known as your esophagus. If you have acid reflux, you may fare better eating your cheesy snack three hours before slumber. [9]<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, suppose you have lactose intolerance like 68% of the world\u2019s population does. [10]<\/sup> Eating foods with lactose could harm your sleep patterns. [11]<\/sup> Parmesan, cheddar, swiss, and camembert are low-lactose cheeses that most people with lactose intolerance can still tolerate. Ricotta cheese, on the other hand, is higher in lactose and could cause symptoms in some people. [12]<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also, keep in mind that eating heavy meals before bed may cause your body to work harder through digestion and could lead to poor-quality sleep. [13]<\/sup> So it\u2019s always a good idea to focus on cheese as a snack versus eating a cheese pizza meal before bed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Does eating cheese before bed give you nightmares?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While some peg cheese for causing nightmares<\/a>, there\u2019s no definitive link that eating cheese too close to bedtime causes haunting dreams. However, there is some anecdotal evidence that cheese can cause more vivid dreams<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A study published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology<\/em> interviewed 396 college students about how food affected their dreams. Researchers found that 17% of participants said eating certain foods (the most common were cheese, milk, ice cream<\/a>, sweets, and spicy foods) resulted in disturbing or bizarre dreams. [14]<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cheese alternatives to eat before bed<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Here are some sleep-friendly swaps for those looking for alternatives to cheese as a bedtime snack<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Non-dairy snacks:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n