Let someone else count sheep, this is how you get to sleep.

Everyone knows sleep is an essential part of bodybuilding. On the level of nutrition and workout, the rest phase is the silent but deadly killer of many athletes. The go hard or go home mindset might work well in the gym, but the sleep is for dead philosophy will only get leave you flabby and frustrated. Ultimately, the rest phase is where you body gets to incorporate your gains and do all the repairing your body needs in order to take advantage of the hard work you’ve put in. Sleep is for living, death is for the dead.

In our modern day lifestyle we don’t always get the rest that we need. With Bills, stress, and an influx of information, we tend to be on conquer mode 24/7’s. While stress is the culprit of many a’ sleepless night, you might want to start thinking about what you’re putting in your stomach. Thats right, your gut. Foods that are high in sugar and saturated fat but low in fiber are proven to interfere with restorative low-wave sleep. But what foods are these exactly? Below are the top 5 foods you should never eat before bed.

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Soda

Soda is chocked full of caffeine, sugar and saturated fat. Pretty much a blueprint of what not to eat before bed. Sugar and caffeine are super stimulating and have been linked to shallower sleep. Not to mention those empty calories won’t be good for your gains.

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Alcohol

Although it might initially make you sleepy, alcohol actually disrupts your natural sleep pattern. It interferes with REM (rapid eye movement) sleep and can leave you drowsy during the day. Once the alcohol leaves your system you will often find yourself waking up in the middle of the night and finding it hard to get back to sleep.

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Heavy meats

That burger you’re thinking is going to a long time to digest due to it’s protein and composition. These keeps your system working throughout the night which can interrupt your sleep. Red meat especially tends to have high concentrated fats which makes for lighter sleep.

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Spicy Foods

Spicy foods can boost your metabolism, which is great during the day but can leave laying awake at night. Foods like chili have been found to cause heartburn so be careful how far out from bed you consume foods that contain them.

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Dark Chocolate

Chocolate is a natural source of stimulants such as caffeine and theobromine that can leave you tossing and turning by charging up your nervous system. A good night’s rest is essential for building a glance-worthy physique.

So next time you’re craving for a light night snack, just say no to the above 5 foods. Try fresh fruit, milk, or tea instead in order to feed your stomach rumblings and still get a great nights sleep.

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