Foods That Steal Your Sleep.note

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At some point or another, it happens to everyone: You can't sleep. When you finally drop off, the

alarm buzzes a microsecond later. Then, you can't get up. And then, it gets worse: When you finally

drag yourself out of bed, you look like you-know-what.

Can't imagine why the sleep gods had it in for you? Think about what you ate the night before, says

Elizabeth Somer, RD, author of The Food & Mood Cookbook. Any of the following -- much less a

combo platter -- can leave your body on uneasy street for hours:

Getting 6 to 8 hours of sleep a night doesn't just make your eyes bright, your skin happy, and your

mind sharp, it can also make your RealAge as much as 3 years younger.

Foods That Steal Your Sleep

Spicy foods: Garlic, chilies, cayenne, and other intense

spices are yummy going down, but they can keep you up with heartburn or

indigestion. Avoid MSG, too, as it can trigger dreams that are a bit too

vivid.

A big dinner: An overtaxed digestive system takes hours to

settle down, and there's nothing restful about that. When sleep's critical, make

lunch your largest meal, and enjoy a light 500-calorie dinner early in the

evening.

Raucous veggies: Eat those good-for-you-but-gassy foods --

beans, cauliflower, broccoli, brussels sprouts -- in the middle of the day. A

tankful of gas can keep anyone up at night.

Speed eating: Relax and enjoy meals to avoid swallowing

air, another common cause of midnight tummy trouble.

Nightcaps: Alcohol may make you drowsy at first, but later

on it disturbs sleep patterns and leads to awakenings and restlessness. A

4-ounce glass of wine with dinner won't hurt, as long as it's not within 2 hours

of bedtime.

Coffee after breakfast: Caffeine can linger in your body

for as long as 12 hours. So if you're often wide-eyed at bedtime, make sure

you're caffeine-clean for at least 12 hours. (Skip tea, chocolate, cola, or

other caffeine culprits, too.) Still watching the clock at 2 a.m.? Wean yourself

off even morning java, then stay caffeine-free for 2 weeks. If you definitely

sleep better, you have your answer: Caffeine is not your friend. If the results

are mixed, "Try adding back a cup or two of coffee or tea in the morning and

watch what happens," says Somer. "But if sleeplessness comes back, cut it

out."