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What happens when you eat cheese before bed?

Author

Sarah Smith

Published Jan 10, 2026

Eating heavy meals with a high fat content late at night can give you indigestion, which in turn disturbs your sleep. Disturbed sleep often involves more nightmares, or at least the memory of more nightmares, because you wake more often and remember them.

Is it okay to eat cheese before bed?

Cheese. While cheese is generally considered a comfort food, it is actually one of the worst foods to eat before bed. Strong or aged cheese, as well as preserved meats such as bacon, ham and pepperoni, contains naturally high levels of the amino acid, tyramine, which make us feel alert.

Why do they say not to eat cheese before bed?

One theory linking cheese to nightmares points to a chemical in cheese called tyramine, which comes from the amino acid tyrosine. Tyramine triggers the release of the neurotransmitter noradrenaline in an area of the brain linked to dream sleep.

How long should you wait to go to bed after eating cheese?

Experts recommend waiting at least three hours after you've eaten to go to bed. This allows your body time to digest your food so you're not up at night with an upset stomach, indigestion, or acid reflux. And it helps you stay asleep. Don't forego a meal to follow this rule.

Is cheese healthy at night?

When it comes to sleep, cheese is a surprisingly sound choice. That's because it's high in calcium, which has been tied to better sleep. It's also loaded with protein, plus some tryptophan and melatonin for good measure.

23 related questions found

Does cheese affect sleep?

Additionally, most of them said that they could clearly remember their dreams. This led to the conclusion that the essential amino acid in milk, and therefore cheese – tryptophan – was having its effect on the cheese eaters by stabilising their sleep patterns and reducing stress levels.

Will eating cheese before bed make you fat?

Eating cottage cheese before bed could boost health without leading to weight gain, a small study suggested. Snacking on 30 grams of the high-protein food about 30 minutes before going to sleep was found to aid a person's overall health, as well as metabolism and the quality of muscle tissue.

Is cheese good for weight loss?

Some people are concerned that cheese is high in fat, sodium, and calories. However, cheese is also an excellent source of protein, calcium, and several other nutrients. Eating cheese may even aid weight loss and help prevent heart disease and osteoporosis.

Why does cheese make you sleepy?

According to Kelly, cheese is high in an amino acid called tryptophan with is the building block of both the happy hormone serotonin, and a precursor for the sleep hormone melatonin, which can make you feel more drowsy. "It's possible that this can be one of the reasons you feel tired," she says.

Does eating cheese make you fat?

There is no evidence that dairy foods cause weight gain. You lose and gain weight by eating fewer or additional calories, not by any one food group. Dairy products are great sources of many beneficial nutrients and should be included in your diet for that reason.

What is the best time to eat cheese?

Cheese is a rich source of calcium and Vitamin B-12. Eating cheesy foods in the morning is a healthy choice. However, eating it at the night can lead to indigestion and weight gain. An efficient replacement of bread, rice can do wonders in keeping your metabolism high throughout the day if eaten during the lunch hours.

Can cheese cause nightmares?

There's no robust evidence that cheese causes nightmares – or, in fact, much that proves the theory wrong, either. But just the prevalence of this rumour could be enough to make it true, says Tore Nielson, professor of psychiatry at the University of Montreal and director of its dream and nightmare laboratory.

Does cheese cause night terrors?

Dairy contains tryptophan (an amino acid that is a constituent of most proteins), which acts as a forerunner for the sleep-causing hormone serotonin, but many people reported experiencing night terrors way more frequently. This can definitely be a good reason to let go of those late night cheese cravings.

Is cheese hard to digest?

Dairy products

Otherwise, dairy is low in fiber and may be easy to digest for many people. Try drinking plain milk or snacking on cheese, yogurt, and cottage cheese. High-fat dairy foods like ice cream are not easily digestible.

Is cheese good for your skin?

Cheese. Cheese is actually a superfood — so it is healthy for you. However, as Klein pointed out, “Dairy products (milk, butter, cheese, milk chocolate) all will increase oil production and lead to blocked pores,” which can cause blackheads and breakouts.

What food can make you sleep?

Here are the 9 best foods and drinks you can have before bed to enhance your quality of sleep.

  1. Almonds. Almonds are a type of tree nut with many health benefits. ...
  2. Turkey. Turkey is delicious and nutritious. ...
  3. Chamomile tea. ...
  4. Kiwi. ...
  5. Tart cherry juice. ...
  6. Fatty fish. ...
  7. Walnuts. ...
  8. Passionflower tea.

Does cheese increase belly fat?

Fatty foods, such as butter, cheese, and fatty meats, are the biggest cause of belly fat. Correct! You answered: Eating high-fat foods is not helpful, but excess calories of any kind can increase your waistline and contribute to belly fat.

What's the worst cheese for you?

Unhealthy Cheeses

  • Halloumi Cheese. Be aware of how much of this squeaky cheese you're adding to your morning bagel and salads! ...
  • Goats/ Blue Cheese. 1 oz. ...
  • Roquefort Cheese. Roquefort is a processed blue cheese and is incredibly high in sodium. ...
  • Parmesan. ...
  • Cheddar Cheese.

What cheese has lowest fat?

A suitable low-sodium cheese would be low-fat or reduced-fat natural Swiss cheese. Other low-fat cheeses include cottage cheese, ricotta cheese, parmesan, feta, and goat's cheese, and low-fat cream cheese. Many cheeses are now available in “lite” versions, such as cheddar, brie, havarti, and feta.

Does eating before bed cause belly fat?

There's no evidence that a small, healthy snack before bed leads to weight gain. Just keep in mind your total daily calorie intake. Therefore, if you feel that eating something before bed helps you fall asleep or stay asleep, it's OK to do so.

What are the disadvantages of eating cheese?

Risks

  • A diet high in sodium and saturated fat is likely to increase the risk of high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, and type 2 diabetes.
  • A high intake of saturated fat can increase the risk of diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular problems.

What can I eat at night to burn fat?

Best Foods to Eat Before Bed for Weight Loss

  • Whey Protein Shake. First and foremost, protein is important for weight loss - whey protein included! ...
  • A Warm Bowl of Oatmeal. ...
  • Greek Yogurt with Berries or Cherries. ...
  • Half a Turkey Sandwich. ...
  • Egg Wrap. ...
  • Smoked Salmon Bagel. ...
  • Cottage Cheese and Fruit. ...
  • Peanut and Nut Butters.

What happens if you eat cheese?

Cheese is a great source of protein and calcium but is often high in saturated fat and salt. This means eating too much could lead to high cholesterol and high blood pressure, increasing your risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Is cheese good for health?

Potential Health Benefits of Cheese

Research has even shown that dairy products like cheese can help keep our teeth free of cavities. Other health benefits of cheese include: Bone and muscle health. The calcium and protein in cheese makes it great for building strong bones and muscle.

What food gives you nightmares?

BedMD: Foods That May Give You Nightmares

  • Cheese. Of the 68 participants who indicated that their dreams were affected by eating certain foods, 12.5 percent blamed it on cheese. ...
  • Pasta. Don't tell your nonna — ragus, ziti and other such dishes nabbed 12.5 percent. ...
  • Meat. ...
  • Pizza. ...
  • Spicy Foods. ...
  • Pickles. ...
  • Milk. ...
  • Sugar, Sweets and Candy.