Latest news with #UniversityofMontreal
Fox News
08-07-2025
- Health
- Fox News
Eating these common foods before bed could trigger sweet dreams or night terrors
Can your diet influence whether you experience sweet dreams or nightmares? Researchers say yes – and their findings could give late-night snackers something to think about. Tore Nielsen, director of the University of Montreal's Dreams and Nightmares Laboratory, recently published his new findings in the journal Frontiers in Psychology on June 30. The study suggests that not only does eating certain foods before bed influence how well you sleep, it also influences the nature of your dreams and whether they're pleasant, bizarre or unsettling. Nielsen told Fox News Digital there were clear patterns in how certain food groups correlated with the quality and emotional tone of participants' dreams. The culprits that worsened sleep included desserts, spicy foods and dairy foods. Nearly 23% of the participants experienced negative dreams after consuming sweet foods, while 19.5% had nightmares after eating spicy fare. Dairy choices, meanwhile, accounted for 15.7% of the bad dreams. In terms of improving sleep, analysts found that those who ate "clean" before bedtime experienced better sleep at night. Nearly 18% reported improved sleep after consuming fruit, while 13.4% reported better sleep after drinking herbal tea. Some 12% of study participants also saw positive effects after consuming vegetables. Nielsen's research also differentiated between disturbing dreams and bizarre dreams. "People who develop nightmares might also take a look at the effects of medications, recreational drugs or alcohol that they're consuming." "Of the participants who stated that they thought food affected their dreams, the top culprits blamed for disturbing dreams were desserts/sweets (31%), dairy (22%) and meat (16%)," Neilsen said. "The top culprits blamed for bizarre dreams were again desserts/sweets (38%) and dairy (27%) — meat was a distant third (8%)." The research also found that three significant habits contribute to poor sleep: eating dairy products despite being lactose intolerant, eating close to bedtime, and not following internal cues about when to stop eating. "These results and the results from our previous study both also suggest that eating a healthier diet in general might reduce nightmares and the overall negativity of dreams," Nielsen observed. While there's more research to be done, the Canadian psychologist said that the findings suggest that people with both severe nightmares and food allergies should be tested and change their diet accordingly. "[If people test] positive for lactose intolerance or other food allergies, [they could] carefully dose the ingestion of the culprit foods to minimize their symptoms – especially at night," he said. Nielsen also cautioned that food sensitivities and diet are "only two possible sources of nightmares." "People who develop nightmares might also take a look at the effects of medications, recreational drugs or alcohol that they're consuming," the expert advised. "Or sometimes withdrawal from substances such as cannabis can induce nightmares for some weeks afterward," he said.
North Wales Chronicle
02-07-2025
- Health
- North Wales Chronicle
Urgent 'nightmare' warning issued to anyone that eats cheese
A study claims that fans of cheese should be warned about the potential side effects and impact. A study of over 1,000 people found that those with lactose intolerance reported overall worse quality sleep and significantly more bad dreams Can say with 100% certainty that cheese before bed does not give me nightmares. They said dairy may cause 'gastrointestinal disturbance' that can disrupt sleep. Study author Dr Tore Nielsen, from the University of Montreal, in Canada, said: 'Nightmares are worse for lactose-intolerant people who suffer severe gastrointestinal symptoms and whose sleep is disrupted. 'This makes sense because we know that other bodily sensations can affect dreaming. These findings imply that changing eating habits for people with food sensitivities could alleviate nightmares. 'They could also explain why people so often blame dairy for bad dreams. We're routinely asked whether food affects dreaming. Now we have some answers.' Experts reckon digesting dairy can cause gut pain that plays havoc with the sleeping brain. Speaking previously, Dr Dennis Schmoltzi, CEO at Emma Sleep, said: 'Whether scientifically proven or just an old wives' tale, there's no doubt that Brits have identified a link between their cheese intake, and the strange visions that feature in their dreams. Recommended reading: 'Unfortunately for those who believe they have had a cheese-induced night-fright, 'tis the season to be cheesy – and vivid dreams may be part and parcel with Christmas celebrations. 'The admiration and love for cheese felt by Brits is clear to see – and with Christmas on the horizon, I have no doubt that households across the country are dusting off their cheese boards. 'It is interesting to note the number of cheese-lovers who feel snoozy after indulging in their favourite snack – a relationship which might account for a portion of the unscheduled festive naps taken this Christmas.'
South Wales Argus
02-07-2025
- Health
- South Wales Argus
Urgent 'nightmare' warning issued to anyone that eats cheese
A study claims that fans of cheese should be warned about the potential side effects and impact. A study of over 1,000 people found that those with lactose intolerance reported overall worse quality sleep and significantly more bad dreams Can say with 100% certainty that cheese before bed does not give me nightmares. — Bob (@WausauBob) July 2, 2025 They said dairy may cause 'gastrointestinal disturbance' that can disrupt sleep. Study author Dr Tore Nielsen, from the University of Montreal, in Canada, said: 'Nightmares are worse for lactose-intolerant people who suffer severe gastrointestinal symptoms and whose sleep is disrupted. 'This makes sense because we know that other bodily sensations can affect dreaming. These findings imply that changing eating habits for people with food sensitivities could alleviate nightmares. 'They could also explain why people so often blame dairy for bad dreams. We're routinely asked whether food affects dreaming. Now we have some answers.' Experts reckon digesting dairy can cause gut pain that plays havoc with the sleeping brain. Speaking previously, Dr Dennis Schmoltzi, CEO at Emma Sleep, said: 'Whether scientifically proven or just an old wives' tale, there's no doubt that Brits have identified a link between their cheese intake, and the strange visions that feature in their dreams. Recommended reading: 'Unfortunately for those who believe they have had a cheese-induced night-fright, 'tis the season to be cheesy – and vivid dreams may be part and parcel with Christmas celebrations. 'The admiration and love for cheese felt by Brits is clear to see – and with Christmas on the horizon, I have no doubt that households across the country are dusting off their cheese boards. 'It is interesting to note the number of cheese-lovers who feel snoozy after indulging in their favourite snack – a relationship which might account for a portion of the unscheduled festive naps taken this Christmas.'
The Herald Scotland
02-07-2025
- Health
- The Herald Scotland
Urgent 'nightmare' warning issued to anyone that eats cheese
A study of over 1,000 people found that those with lactose intolerance reported overall worse quality sleep and significantly more bad dreams Can say with 100% certainty that cheese before bed does not give me nightmares. — Bob (@WausauBob) July 2, 2025 They said dairy may cause 'gastrointestinal disturbance' that can disrupt sleep. Study author Dr Tore Nielsen, from the University of Montreal, in Canada, said: 'Nightmares are worse for lactose-intolerant people who suffer severe gastrointestinal symptoms and whose sleep is disrupted. 'This makes sense because we know that other bodily sensations can affect dreaming. These findings imply that changing eating habits for people with food sensitivities could alleviate nightmares. 'They could also explain why people so often blame dairy for bad dreams. We're routinely asked whether food affects dreaming. Now we have some answers.' Experts reckon digesting dairy can cause gut pain that plays havoc with the sleeping brain. Speaking previously, Dr Dennis Schmoltzi, CEO at Emma Sleep, said: 'Whether scientifically proven or just an old wives' tale, there's no doubt that Brits have identified a link between their cheese intake, and the strange visions that feature in their dreams. Recommended reading: 'Unfortunately for those who believe they have had a cheese-induced night-fright, 'tis the season to be cheesy – and vivid dreams may be part and parcel with Christmas celebrations. 'The admiration and love for cheese felt by Brits is clear to see – and with Christmas on the horizon, I have no doubt that households across the country are dusting off their cheese boards. 'It is interesting to note the number of cheese-lovers who feel snoozy after indulging in their favourite snack – a relationship which might account for a portion of the unscheduled festive naps taken this Christmas.'
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Study Finds Certain Foods Could Cause Nightmares
Having a problem with nightmares and poor sleep? You might want to be mindful of what you're eating and when you're eating it. A study done at the University of Montreal that was published in Frontiers in Psychology finds that certain foods eaten during the evening or late at night may cause nightmares and impact sleep. The study involved 1,082 participants and 40.2% of them reported that certain foods either helped or hurt their sleep. Also, 5.5% of the participants reported that food impacted their dreams. The study found that it was plausible that those who both consumed dairy products and had lactose intolerance were more susceptible to "bizarre or disturbing dreams." Dairy products were only the second-most troublesome thing when it came to bad dreams, though, as desserts and sweets topped the list among respondents. "The perceived effect of food on dreams was associated with higher nightmare recall and Nightmare Disorder Index scores, with changes being blamed primarily on desserts/sweets (31%) and dairy (22%)," the study said. As far as lactose-related nightmares are concerned, issues with digesting the dairy products while sleeping could be at the root of the problem. Food allergies and gluten intolerance were also mentioned. Bloating, gas, diarrhea, abdominal pain and cramping, and nausea and vomiting are all gastrointestinal issues that are symptoms of lactose intolerance, according to the Mayo Clinic. Researchers also noted that healthier eating — and particularly less eating in the evening — was linked to better dream Finds Certain Foods Could Cause Nightmares first appeared on Men's Journal on Jul 1, 2025
