Latest news with #sleepQuality
The Independent
03-07-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Eating cheese might be the cause of bad dreams, scientists say
A study has identified a strong association between nightmares and lactose intolerance, suggesting that gastrointestinal discomfort from dairy can disrupt sleep and contribute to bad dreams. Dr. Tore Nielsen, the lead researcher from the Université de Montréal, indicated that adjusting eating habits for individuals with food sensitivities could potentially alleviate nightmares. The research involved surveying over 1,000 students at Canada's MacEwan University regarding their sleep patterns, dietary habits, and any perceived links between the two. Findings showed that women constituted the majority of participants reporting poor sleep and nightmares, and they were also more prone to recalling dreams and reporting food allergies or intolerances. The study concluded that improved awareness of food intolerances could lead to better sleep quality, although further research is needed to confirm these links across diverse populations.
The Independent
01-07-2025
- Health
- The Independent
More parm than good? Cheese may be what's giving you nightmares, scientists say
Having nightmares? Scientists say a love of cheese may be linked to bad dreams. A strong association has been discovered between nightmares and lactose intolerance. In turn, stomach pain or gas during the night can affect sleep. Understanding that relationship — and potentially cutting out cheese — could help improve sleep quality, which may already be disrupted due to noise and light pollution or other health issues. Good sleep is crucial for the body to function well. 'Nightmare severity is robustly associated with lactose intolerance and other food allergies,' lead researcher Dr. Tore Nielsen, of the Université de Montréal, explained in a statement. 'These new findings imply that changing eating habits for people with some food sensitivities could alleviate nightmares. They could also explain why people so often blame dairy for bad dreams!' To reach these conclusions, the researchers questioned more than 1,000 students at Canada's MacEwan University about their sleep, eating habits, and any perceived tie between the two. About a third of participants reported having regular nightmares. The majority of those reporting poor sleep and nightmares were women, who were also more likely to remember their dreams and nearly twice as likely as men to report a food allergy or intolerance. Some 40 percent of the students said they thought that eating late at night or eating specific foods had affected their sleep, and about a quarter believed that consuming certain foods could make their sleep worse. Many blamed bad sleep on spicy foods, sweets, and dairy. However, just 5.5 percent felt that what they ate impacted the tone of their dreams. People with less healthy diets were more likely to have bad dreams and less likely to remember their dreams. The authors compared reports of food intolerances to those of bad dreams and poor sleep, finding that lactose intolerance was associated with gastrointestinal symptoms, nightmares, and low sleep quality. 'Nightmares are worse for lactose-intolerant people who suffer severe gastrointestinal symptoms and whose sleep is disrupted,' said Nielsen. 'This makes sense, because we know that other bodily sensations can affect dreaming.' They noted that improved awareness of food intolerance could mean students in the study ate fewer foods likely to lead to negative outcomes. A previous study, conducted by Nielsen more than a decade ago, showed even more participants reported a link between their food and dreams. Prior research, separate from Nielsen's, has also pointed to this relationship, and blue cheese specifically has been reported to cause vivid dreams. But, there have also been studies showing that dairy helps sleep quality. It remains unclear how sleep and diet impact each other. The authors said additional research is needed to confirm these links and identify the underlying mechanisms. 'We need to study more people of different ages, from different walks of life, and with different dietary habits to determine if our results are truly generalizable to the larger population,' said Nielsen.
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Sweet dreams? Not if you eat this popular snack before bed, study says
Looking for a gouda night of sleep? You might want to steer clear of this little nibble before bed. A new study in the journal Frontiers in Psychology suggests dairy might be the grate-est villain to sweet dreams. Researchers polled 1,000 students at MacEwan University in Canada on their sleep quality and eating habits and found an un-brie-lievable link between nightmares and lactose intolerance. 'Nightmare severity is robustly associated with lactose intolerance and other food allergies,' said lead study author Tore Nielsen of Université de Montréal. 'These new findings imply that changing eating habits for people with some food sensitivities could alleviate nightmares. They could also explain why people so often blame dairy for bad dreams!' Looks like that delectable cube of cheese could have you waking up in a cold, curdled sweat! Unsurprisingly, this is especially true if you're sensitive to dairy — which many people unknowingly are. 'Nightmares are worse for lactose-intolerant people who suffer severe gastrointestinal symptoms and whose sleep is disrupted,' said Nielsen. 'This makes sense, because we know that other bodily sensations can affect dreaming.' Nightmares can rob people of restful sleep, Nielsen noted, because they tend to cause the dreamer to awaken in a state of distress — and they may lead to sleep avoidance. About one-third of the study participants admitted that they regularly experience nightmares, with women significantly more likely to remember their dreams and report food allergies than men. Around 40% believed late-night snacking or eating certain foods could lead to tossing and turning all night. Most blamed sweets, spicy food and dairy for their nighttime woes. Only 5.5% of participants suspected what they snacked on seeped into their dreams, but of those, dairy reigned supreme as the dream-warping devil. Still, more research is needed before we give up on cheese Roquefort-ever. 'We need to study more people of different ages, from different walks of life, and with different dietary habits to determine if our results are truly generalizable to the larger population,' said Nielsen. 'Experimental studies are also needed to determine if people can truly detect the effects of specific foods on dreams. We would like to run a study in which we ask people to ingest cheese products versus some control food before sleep to see if this alters their sleep or dreams.' That's nacho average study! The findings shed insight into folklore wisdom that goes back as far as 'A Christmas Carol,' in which Ebenezer Scrooge famously blamed 'a crumb of cheese' for his ghostly visions. In 2005, the British Cheese Board — a cultured organization, to be sure — conducted a study with 200 people and found no link between cheese and nightmares. In fact, a hunk of cheddar appeared to lead to more pleasant dreams, possibly because a happy belly equals a placid midnight mind. And a recent study found cheese might even prevent sleep apnea, thanks to its nutritional density. So — why does cheese keep getting grilled? Some cheeses contain tyramine, a compound that can stimulate the brain by triggering the release of norepinephrine, a chemical that can make you feel more alert. However, biomedical scientist Dr. Zac Turner recently pointed out that most people only eat a few cubes of cheese in one sitting, which would deliver negligible amounts of tyramine. He noted that if you're pairing your cheeseboard with a bottle of wine, that's more likely to be the culprit, as alcohol is a known disruptor of sleep.
The Sun
01-07-2025
- Health
- The Sun
Famous ‘mythical' side effect of eating cheese is REAL, experts find in landmark study – does it affect YOU?
CHEESE really can cause nightmares, a study claims. Experts reckon digesting dairy can cause gut pain that plays havoc with the sleeping brain. Polls of 1,082 people found those with lactose intolerance reported overall worse quality sleep and significantly more bad dreams, like those with horror film baddie Freddy Krueger. The researchers suggest even people without the condition might be affected. They said it is possible that dairy causes ' 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.' Top tips to help you sleep better at night 1
The Sun
23-06-2025
- Health
- The Sun
Weekly nightmares ‘triple the risk of an early death' as scientists reveal what to do NOW
PEOPLE who suffer from weekly nightmares could be at higher risk of early death, researchers have warned. Adults who reported weekly nightmares were over three times more likely to die before the age of 70, compared to those who rarely or never had them, they found. 1 Researchers said night terrors were a 'stronger predictor of premature death' than other established risk factors, such as smoking, obesity, unhealthy diets and lack of exercise. They also linked frequent nightmares to accelerated biological ageing. Off the back of their findings, researchers shared "simple measures" to prevent nightmares - including "avoiding scary movies", setting up a good bedtime routine and keeping stress under control. The team - led by Dr Abidemi Otaiku of the UK Dementia Research Institute, and Imperial College London - analysed data from 2,429 children aged eight to 10 and 183,012 adults aged 26 to 86 over a period of 19 years. Adults were asked to report how often they experienced nightmares at the start of the study, while the parents of child participants reported how often their little ones suffered night terrors. Meanwhile, participants' biological age was assessed by measuring the length of their telomeres – small DNA sequences that serve as indicators of cellular ageing. The research, which was presented at the European Academy of Neurology (EAN) Congress this month, found that nightmares disrupt both sleep quality and duration. This impairs the body's ability to repair itself and restore cells throughout the night. Dr Otaiku said: 'Our sleeping brains cannot distinguish dreams from reality. 'That's why nightmares often wake us up sweating, gasping for breath, and with our hearts pounding – because our fight-or-flight response has been triggered. "This stress reaction can be even more intense than anything we experience while awake.' The combination of chronic stress and disrupted sleep likely speed up the ageing of our cells and bodies, study authors said. Results showed that adults who reported weekly nightmares were more than three times as likely to die prematurely - which researchers described as before the of age 70 - compared to those who rarely or never experienced nightmares. Children and adults with more frequent nightmares also exhibited faster biological ageing, which accounted for approximately 40 per cent of their heightened risk of death. Dr Otaiku added: 'Nightmares lead to prolonged elevations of cortisol, a stress hormone closely linked to faster cellular ageing. For those who frequently experience nightmares, this cumulative stress may significantly impact the ageing process. "Additionally, nightmares disrupt both sleep quality and duration, impairing the body's essential overnight cellular restoration and repair. "The combined effects of chronic stress and disrupted sleep likely contribute to the accelerated ageing of our cells and bodies.' Even monthly nightmares were linked to faster ageing and increased mortality compared to rare or no nightmares, study authors found. Tips to combat stress The Stress Management Society says . . . STAY CONNECTED. Look after your social wellbeing by staying in touch with others. Pick up the phone, talk, and ask for help. GET ENOUGH SLEEP. Set up a good bedtime routine and make your bedroom a tech-free zone. This will force you to switch off in this 'always on' world. PRIORITISE AND ORGANISE. Even if you work from home, try to keep work and personal space separate, create boundaries and prioritise the most important tasks for the start of the day. EAT HEALTHILY. Reduce sugar consumption to avoid energy crashes, avoid relying on stimulants such as caffeine and nicotine, and drink plenty of water to stay hydrated. SELF-CARE. Make time for things you enjoy and leave you feeling relaxed, whether it's mindfulness, reading, a walk, sport or watching TV. See The link between frequent nightmares and accelerated ageing was observed across all ages, sexes, ethnicities, and mental health conditions, which researchers said indicates a universal effect. The findings highlight the importance of reducing nightmare frequency across the population. 'The good news is that nightmares can be prevented and treated', Dr Otaiku said. 'Simple measures like avoiding scary movies, maintaining good sleep hygiene, managing stress, and seeking treatment for anxiety or depression can be effective. 'Those experiencing frequent nightmares that disrupt their quality of life may benefit from seeing a sleep specialist. "Effective psychological treatments, such as image rehearsal therapy, can be practised at home. "Recent research also suggests that therapies like CBT-I, which reduce nightmares, may significantly slow the ageing process', he added. Reflecting on the broader public health significance of these findings, Dr Otaiku stated: 'Given how common and modifiable nightmares are, they should be taken far more seriously as a public health concern. 'If further studies confirm the causal impact of nightmares on ageing and brain health, then preventing and treating them could become one of the simplest, most cost-effective strategies to slow ageing at a population level. "This would not only improve individual well-being but also help achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal of reducing premature death worldwide and promoting health for all.'
