Can your diet affect nightmares? New research offers insight
A recent study published Tuesday in the journal Frontiers in Psychology examined people's sleep habits, focusing on their dreams, and compared these with their eating patterns. One key finding was that individuals with more severe lactose intolerance symptoms experienced more intense nightmares.
This new research builds on earlier work from 2015, which explored the concept of 'food-dependent dreaming,' or how different foods might affect dreams.
'In the previous study, cheese was often blamed for bad dreams,' explained Tore Nielsen, a psychiatry professor at the University of Montreal and co-author of both studies. 'Our new research offers clearer insights on this.'
The study surveyed just over 1,000 participants, primarily students from an undergraduate psychology class, so the results might not reflect the general population. Those who reported severe gastrointestinal issues due to lactose intolerance also reported nightmares that were more frequent, more distressing, lasted longer, and had a greater impact on daily life. Dairy products and sweets were the most common foods participants associated with their bad dreams.
Experts say there are plausible reasons why eating cheese before bed might trigger nightmares. Nielsen noted that anxiety linked to lactose intolerance symptoms could contribute to more nightmares.
Marie-Pierre St-Onge, director at the Center of Excellence for Sleep & Circadian Research at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, suggested that gastrointestinal discomfort might disrupt sleep, leading to vivid or disturbing dreams.
Patrick McNamara, an associate professor of neurology at Boston University who studies sleep and the brain, added that consuming foods that trigger lactose intolerance may cause 'micro-arousals' during sleep. These brief awakenings could lower sleep quality and intensify nightmares.
However, both McNamara and the study authors stressed that other factors unrelated to digestive symptoms might also influence dreams.
Nielsen expressed interest in further exploring the relationship between dairy and dreaming, and co-author Russell Powell, professor emeritus of psychology at MacEwan University, said they plan to replicate the study with other groups.
Meanwhile, Nielsen suggested individuals could monitor their own diets and adjust as needed — changes that don't necessarily require medical advice.
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