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The answer is yes if you can’t tolerate certain foods such as those containing lactose. Canadian sleep researchers at the University of Montreal and MacEwan University surveyed 1082 college students and found an impressive link between nightmares and diet.

Data gathered included dietary information, food intolerances, allergies, personality type, measures of sleep quality using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and dreams using the Nightmare Disorder Index.

The results. About a third of participants reported frequent nightmares, and women were more likely than men to experience poor sleep, remember dreams, and report food sensitivities. Forty percent of all surveyed reported that their diet affected their sleep quality. Sweet desserts were blamed by 31% while 22% blamed dairy. Healthy food intake avoiding late night ingestion was associated with better dream recall. The opposite: a diet of fatty, greasy, spicy foods and including late night gorging led to nightmares and negative dreams. Those with gastrointestinal issues such as gas, stomach cramps, or reflux as well as those with food allergies including lactose intolerance were more likely to suffer.

So if you wake up certain a zombie is chasing you with a chainsaw, you might want to cut out that late night pizza, mac and cheese, or 7 layer chocolate cake.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250701020653.htm

https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1544475/full

#dreams #nightmares #diet #dairy #desserts #lactoseintolerance