Myths.. What is the connection between eating cheese at night and nightmares?

SadaNews - Could the cheese or yogurt that a person consumes at night be a source of their nightmares?

This question seems to be raised seriously after Canadian researchers concluded that there is a link between disturbing dreams and lactose sensitivity, likely due to the digestive symptoms it causes.

It has long been known according to popular sayings that having a light dinner aids in sound sleep. However, few scientific studies have discovered the impact of diet on dreams.

In a study published Tuesday in the journal "Frontiers in Psychology", psychology researchers conducted a survey of 1,082 students at "MacEwan University" in Canada over four months regarding their eating habits and sleep, and more specifically their nightmares, and the link they found between the two.

About 40% of participants felt that their diet affected the quality of their sleep, with 24.7% saying that its effect was negative, while 5.5% said it affected their dreams.

Participants in the study noted that sweets and dairy products are the foods that most impact the quality of their sleep (22.7% and 15.7%, respectively) and their dreams (29.8% and 20.6%), making them seem "strange" or "disturbing".

In contrast, fruits (17.6%), vegetables (11.8%), and herbal tea (13.4%) were identified as the foods that help achieve sound sleep.

Researchers compared these statements with those related to food intolerances and found a strong correlation between nightmares and lactose intolerance.

Subtle Signals

The specialist in neurophysiology and the neurocognitive mechanisms of dreams and nightmares at "University of Montreal", the main author of the study, Luke Nielsen, told AFP that many individuals who suffer from lactose intolerance "still consume dairy products", and the severity of intolerance varies according to the amount of lactase (the enzyme that digests lactose) produced by each individual in their small intestine.

Therefore, these individuals may experience, either consciously or unconsciously, "subtle physical and organic signals" related to digestive symptoms (including bloating and cramps) after consuming dairy products during sleep.

"Recording Unconscious Physical Disturbances"

However, previous studies suggest that certain dreams "register unconscious physical disturbances which only later appear as visible symptoms". For example, "seeing a fire in a dream may precede the onset of a fever".

This can also be explained by negative feelings, such as anxiety, associated with digestive symptoms.

Nielsen explains: "We know that negative feelings we experience while awake can extend into dreams. The same is likely true for those arising due to digestive disturbances during sleep".

However, the study did not establish a link between gluten intolerance and nightmares, possibly due to its limited prevalence in the sample, or because gluten intolerance "produces different physiological or emotional effects", according to Nielsen.

Although the link between lactose intolerance and nightmares seems strong, researchers question how it works:

Do participants sleep poorly because they eat poorer quality food?
Or do they eat poorer quality food because they sleep poorly?

Unless there is another factor that affects both diet and sleep.

Need for "More Studies"

Nielsen states: "We need to conduct more studies on a larger number of individuals from diverse ages, backgrounds, and eating habits to determine whether these findings are generalizable".

He and his colleagues are already considering future research.

The "ideal experiment" involves randomly assigning participants, whether they suffer from lactose intolerance or not, to specific groups eating specific foods before sleep, then collecting and analyzing their dream data.

One group could consume regular dairy products before bed, while another group consumes lactose-free dairy products, "to determine whether the effects of milk are restricted to those with this condition", according to Nielsen.

Need for "More Studies"

Nielsen states: "We need to conduct more studies on a larger number of individuals from diverse ages, backgrounds, and eating habits to determine whether these findings are generalizable".

He and his colleagues are already considering future research.

The "ideal experiment" involves randomly assigning participants, whether they suffer from lactose intolerance or not, to specific groups for consuming specific foods before sleep, then collecting and analyzing their dream data.

One group could consume regular dairy products before bedtime, while another group consumes lactose-free dairy products, "to determine whether the effects of milk are limited to those individuals" according to Nielsen.