Our parents would often tell us that eating dessert too close to bedtime was a no-no. “Sugar keeps you up,” they’d say, “and chocolate gives you nightmares.” But were those claims based on fact… or were our parents simply trying to quell our rambunctious energy? It turns out, whether our parents knew it or not, they were actually onto something. Although the science behind it is still shaky, eating dessert, or any food, before bed can cause some to experience nightmares.
A 2002 study from researchers at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital in Norfolk, Virginia reported that there is no direct link between chocolate and nightmares. However, researchers did learn that the caffeine in chocolate blocked a naturally-occurring sleep paralysis called atonia in some people, therefore allowing them to move more freely while asleep. In some extreme cases, this can lead to sleepwalking or exacerbated violent sleep patterns.
Furthermore, in 2015, the University of Montreal also found a correlation between food and disturbing dreams. Although, their findings had less to do with the actual food and more to do with related somatic and/or psychological factors.
For example, if someone believes chocolate will give them nightmares, then they may experience nightmares after eating chocolate before bed. Or, if someone struggles with gastrointestinal issues, foods that irritate symptoms may also cause disrupted sleep and/or disturbing dreams.
Some food scientists hypothesize that the sugar in desserts can cause brainwaves to fluctuate while you’re attempting to rest. And it’s been proven that consuming spicy foods or heavy meals shortly before bedtime can cause your body temperature to rise as it attempts to digest.
Therefore, your body will struggle to drop to an ideal temperature for sleep, which can keep you out of REM and can cause your weird dreams to be more memorable in the morning.
Again, the science behind food and nightmares is not solid and there’s still a lot to explore in regards to the connection (or lack thereof). But to trick your mind into not having nightmares, take Mom and Dad’s advice — refrain from eating before bed and tell yourself that it will keep those ghouls and goblins out of your head.
