There is no scientific research to indicate that high glycemic foods give you bad dreams. High glycemic foods raise blood glucose levels more than those with a low glycemic index. While scientists do not fully understand the causes of bad dreams, research indicates a variety of possible connections. Consult your doctor if bad dreams disrupt your life.
High Glycemic Food and Bad Dreams
Often, bad dreams take place during Rapid Eye Movement, or REM sleep. REM occurs when you are sleeping lightly rather than deeply. According to scientists interviewed for the PBS television program "Nova," this might be because the amygdala, the section of your brain that manages unpleasant emotions like fear, anger and aggression, is active during REM sleep. If eating high glycemic food before bed makes it difficult for you to sleep deeply, you might be more prone to bad dreams. However, there is no scientific research to support this idea.
About High Glycemic Food
According to the American Diabetes Association, the glycemic index, or GI, measures how foods containing carbohydrates raise blood glucose levels. High glycemic index foods raise blood glucose more than those with a lower glycemic index. Dried beans, non-starchy vegetables, whole fruits, whole grain breads and cereals have a low GI. White bread, potatoes, pretzels and pumpkins have a high GI. High GI foods are not known to have any relationship with dreaming, but they are one important consideration in meal planning for diabetics, in conjunction with total carbohydrate intake, exercise and medication.
About Dreams
One psychoanalytic school of thought made popular by psychologists Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung, posits that dreams contain symbolic content produced by the unconscious to resolve sexual and other impulses. Others believe that dreams are nothing more than meaningless chemical signals your brain fires while you are at rest. Research about the origins of dreams is ongoing and inconclusive. Folklore suggests that eating spicy foods or those that cause indigestion could prompt bad dreams, but this is not scientifically founded.
Suggestions
If your bad dreams trouble you, talking about their content with a licensed counselor might help relieve your stress. If you suspect your dreams are only chemical signals, try physical remedies to encourage deep sleep. Exercise plenty during the day. Avoid caffeinated beverages in the evenings. Eat a nutritional snack several hours before going to bed. If you are concerned that high glycemic foods are causing your bad dreams, talk to your doctor about whether it is safe to reduce your intake of such foods. Instead of a high glycemic nighttime snack, have a protein-rich glass of soy milk, or half of a nourishing, vitamin-rich sandwich, such as peanut butter and apple on whole grain bread.
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