If your bed has turned into a sauna, you may want to look in the cupboard or the fridge for the culprit. Night sweats can be caused by a variety of medical conditions, such as diabetes or heart conditions, menopause, hormonal decreases in aging men and bacterial infections. While waking up in a pool of sweat is not always a sign of a serious problem, it is unpleasant and interrupts restful sleep. Understanding what foods trigger night sweats may help stave off nocturnal heatwaves.
Hot or Not?
Dial down the heat index of your foods, especially at dinner. Hot peppers and spices, even hefty doses of garlic and onions, can make your internal temperature rise. "Refrain from eating spicy foods late in the evening," advises Dr. Laura M. Rosch, DO, an osteopathic internal medicine specialist interviewed on the website Osteopathic.org. Heat goes for temperature, as well. Hot drinks may be soothing, but they can bring on a bout of sweating. Confine hot drinks to the daylight or early evening hours, and substitute ice water for warm bedside beverages.
In a Sweat over Sugar?
Sugar and foods that act like sugar in the system, such as refined carbohydrates, can cause your blood glucose level to spike and then dive rapidly. These blood sugar peaks and valleys often incite late-night sweating, particularly if you combine sweet and high-carb foods with caffeine and alcohol, two other substances known to trigger night sweats. If you crave something sweet before bed, try fresh fruit or low-fat ice cream, sorbet or frozen yogurt in vanilla or fruit flavors.
Slash the Stimulants
Caffeine makes the blood vessels dilate and worsens night sweats. You can find caffeine in coffee, tea and sodas, as well as in chocolate, all of which should be avoided in the evening hours. Eating a heavy, fatty meal too close to bedtime can over-stimulate the digestive process, resulting in a night of tossing and turning in sweat-soaked sheets. Fatty and spicy foods also may trigger acid reflux, another cause of nocturnal perspiration.
Keep it Cool
Certain herbs and spices are by nature more cooling. Cayenne pepper, curry, and dried ginger and mustard have warming properties. Conversely, sage, fresh ginger, lemongrass, white peppercorns, peppermint and marjoram are known to be cooling, so you may want to cook the evening meal with these ingredients. Yogurt, seaweed and kelp, seafood, and most dairy are cooling foods. Consider the cooking method, as well: Deep-fat frying can make foods heavy and harder to digest, while stir-frying, steaming and quick sauteing result in lighter, cooler dishes.
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