Insomnia

You may think of sleep as something that starts when you turn off the lights. But what you eat earlier in the day may be part of the picture, too. New research found that, among healthy young adults, days with more fruits and vegetables were associated with fewer disruptions in sleep that night. That does …

Fiber is usually discussed in terms of digestion, but its role may extend further. Your gut bacteria use certain types of fiber as food, producing compounds that interact with other systems in the body. Some research has found a relationship between higher fiber intake and better reported sleep. Fiber is not a treatment for sleep …

That afternoon coffee may seem far removed from bedtime, yet it can still be worth asking whether caffeine is changing the way you sleep. The tricky part is that caffeine does not always make you feel obviously alert at night. You may fall asleep normally and still notice that your sleep feels different. Looking at …

Magnesium is a mineral your body needs for many everyday functions, including muscle and nerve function. Because sleep is closely connected with the nervous system, magnesium has also attracted attention in sleep research. That does not mean eating more magnesium automatically leads to better sleep. Research suggests that magnesium intake may be associated with sleep …

Getting hungry before bed can put you in an awkward spot. You want to sleep, but going to bed hungry can be just as uncomfortable as eating a heavy meal too late. The good news is that you do not necessarily have to choose between hunger and sleep. If you genuinely need a snack, the …

A late dinner or midnight snack may seem harmless, but eating close to bedtime can sometimes make sleep harder. Your body is preparing to rest while your digestive system is still active, and the timing and size of your meal may affect how comfortable you feel during the night. That does not mean you need …

Evening exercise does not automatically have to interfere with sleep. For some people, a walk, gentle yoga, or another moderate activity can be a comfortable part of the evening. The bigger question is how intense the exercise is, when you finish, and how your body responds afterward. If evening is the only time you can …

You may have heard that exercising before bed is a bad idea. But evening workouts are not automatically harmful to sleep. For some people, light or moderate exercise can fit comfortably into the evening, while harder workouts close to bedtime may make it more difficult to wind down. The difference often comes down to timing, …

You may fall asleep easily and still wake up feeling tired because someone else is sharing the bed. A partner’s movement, noise, or different sleep habits can interrupt your sleep without either of you realizing how much it is affecting the night. Occasional awakenings are normal. The bigger issue is when small disruptions happen repeatedly …

Morning exercise can be a good choice for sleep, but it is not automatically the best option for everyone. Your body clock, workout intensity, and how close you exercise to bedtime can all influence how exercise fits into your sleep routine. The good news is that you do not need to find a perfect workout …