13 surprising things that could explain your sleep woes

You probably know that many medications – from allergy medications to statins to antidepressants – can disrupt your sleep. But some vitamins can, too. In particular, B vitamins can interfere with your nightly rest. There’s evidence suggesting vitamin B6 may trigger vivid and bizarre dreaming, which is more likely to wake you during the night. And research shows vitamin B12 may increase your sensitivity to light, inhibiting the sleep hormone melatonin and disrupting normal sleep-wake rhythms. The best time to take a multivitamin? In the morning after breakfast.

I love a square or two of dark chocolate as a treat. But I avoid eating chocolate before bed, and I suggest my patients do the same. Chocolate has several health benefits but it’s not a sleep-promoter. Chocolate is an often-overlooked source of caffeine. The greater the cocoa content, the higher the caffeine level in chocolate. If you’re making the healthier choice by opting for dark chocolate, and having it as a before-bed snack, you’re getting an extra, unwelcome jolt of caffeine when you least need it. Plan to get your chocolate fix earlier in the day, and try more sleep-friendly nighttime snacks such as a banana, toast with nut butter, or a small bowl of whole-grain, low-sugar cereal.

It’s not only chocolate that can be problematic for sleep – other sugary foods can disrupt sleep, too. Most people love a sweet treat at the end of the day but feeding those cravings for sweet food before bed elevates blood sugar. A jump in blood sugar – and the crash that follows – can have negative effects on sleep.

Here’s how to kick the sugar habit without missing the sweet stuff.

As a sleep specialist, I spend plenty of time talking to patients about reducing noise in their sleep environment. But sometimes the problem isn’t too much noise, it’s too much silence. In a perfectly quiet bedroom, every little random sound can trigger your brain to attention. For people who need to calm a racing mind at night in order to drift off, a silent bedroom can get in the way of sleep. The best sounds for sleep? They vary from person to person but are often rhythmic sounds that mimic nature or mixed-frequency sounds such as white noise and pink noise.

(And while you’re at it, here are 8 simple ways to get smarter while you sleep.)

Whether it’s in your toothpaste or your nightly cup of herbal tea, peppermint can have a stimulating effect. A 2005 study found people exposed to peppermint oil (in a darkened room, no less) experienced a decrease in their sleepiness. Citrus, eucalyptus and rosemary are other scents that energise and wake the mind. If you’re struggling to nod off at night, swap out your mint tea for a more relaxing brew, such as chamomile or jasmine, and consider switching to a less minty toothpaste.

And for an extra healthy burst of olfactory power, here are 10 soothing scents that can boost your immune system.

Bed pillows collect a lot of pretty gross stuff: dirt, dead skin, hair, mould, fungus, pet dander, dust mites… you get the picture. These substances can cause allergy symptoms (think sneezing, coughing, runny and itchy nose and eyes) that interfere with sleep. Allergies are also linked to sleep disorders. A 2005 study found people with allergies are nearly twice as likely to have insomnia. And allergies are also a risk factor for obstructive sleep apnoea, according to research. Washing your pillows a couple of times a year is a smart move from a hygiene perspective and can ensure they last for a good few years. (And here’s why you should never sit on your bed in your outside clothes.)

It’s not just daylight and darkness that affect sleep cycles. The phases of the moon can also have a significant impact on sleep. In a 2013 study published in the journal Current Biology, Swiss scientists found that around the time of a full moon, people sleep less (an average of 20 minutes), take longer to fall asleep, and sleep less soundly. They also found our bodies produce less melatonin and spend less time in deep, slow-wave sleep. Social media is another big cause of sleeplessness.

During sleep, your metabolic system repairs and restores itself, and your digestive system gets a welcome, important rest. If you eat a big meal at the end of the day, especially if you eat a late dinner very close to bedtime, your digestive system is kicking into action right when you’re headed for bed. That’s not good for your metabolic health. A 2017 study found that shifting eating to later in the day contributes to weight gain, higher cholesterol and insulin levels, and increased risks for heart disease and diabetes. It also can be disruptive to sleep. (That’s why you need to change not what you eat, but WHEN you eat.)

Plenty of heat and spice can make for a great meal, but it might wreck your slumber. The chemical capsaicin, found in capsicum and chilli peppers, triggers a process known as thermogenesis – that’s when the body converts energy into heat. Eating a lot of spicy food may raise body temperature slightly. Why does that matter to sleep? Body temperature naturally lowers at night as part of the body’s preparation for sleep, so spicy food may send your body temperature in the wrong direction. Spicy food can also trigger heartburn, which can become worse when you lie down, making it tough to fall asleep. And when you’re sleep deprived you actually end up overeating, which could lead to weight gain.

If you’re watching intense, fast-paced TV shows right up until bedtime, it might not be the light from the screen that’s derailing your sleep. It could be the story itself that’s keeping you awake. Game of Thrones is great, but it’s not exactly sleep-promoting fare for many of us. The mental stimulation of dramatic, complicated and suspenseful shows (and even a really gripping book) activates the very areas of our brain we need to quiet down in order to fall asleep and sleep soundly.