Have you ever woken up from a strange or unsettling dream and wondered if it was caused by what you ate the night before? You’re not alone. For centuries, people have linked food and dreams—from folklore to comics like the early 20th-century strip “Dream of the Rarebit Fiend,” where late-night cheese was blamed for bizarre dream sequences.
But is there science behind this? Recent studies suggest there may be.
What Science Says About Food and Dreams
- Organic Food vs. Fast Food
- A 2007 study found that people who ate more organic food reported more vivid and unusual dreams than those who ate fast food.
- Fruits and Fish vs. Sugary Foods
- A 2022 survey showed fruits and fish were linked with better dream recall and more lucid dreams.
- On the other hand, sugary foods often trigger nightmares.
- Dairy and Dream Disturbances
- In a 2015 study, nearly 18% of participants believed their diet impacted their dreams.
- Dairy was the most common food blamed for strange or negative dreams.
New Insights from Canadian Study
In our recent survey of 1,082 psychology students in Canada:
- 40% said food influenced their sleep quality.
- 5% believed food directly affected their dreams—especially sweets and dairy.
- Those with lactose intolerance or gluten allergies reported more nightmares and poorer sleep.
- Gastrointestinal symptoms (like bloating or stomach pain) were strongly linked with nightmares, suggesting the gut-brain axis (the link between digestion and the nervous system) may play a role.
Interestingly, this also aligns with research on PTSD, where nightmares are common. It suggests diet could play a part in managing sleep issues in people with trauma-related conditions.
Practical Recommendations for Better Sleep and Dreams
Here are some simple, evidence-informed tips:
- 🍫 Avoid late-night sugary, spicy, or heavy meals → They can reduce sleep quality and trigger disturbing dreams.
- 🥛 If you’re lactose intolerant → Skip dairy at night, or try lactose-free options. Hard cheeses usually contain less lactose than soft ones.
- 🥗 If you have allergies, avoid known trigger foods before bedtime, as even the anxiety around them may spill into dreams.
- 📒 Keep a food & dream diary → Track what you eat and how it affects your sleep or dreams. Eliminate suspicious foods to see if it helps.
- 🍎 Choose a balanced diet. → Fiber-rich fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and healthy fats support good sleep quality overall.
While science is still uncovering exactly how food affects dreams, there is growing evidence that your dinner plate may shape your dreamscape. Foods like dairy and sweets, especially in people with intolerances, could be more likely to trigger nightmares or restless sleep.
So next time you wake up from a peculiar dream, it may be worth asking yourself: Was it the cheese?
At the Doctorpreneur Academy, doctors are learning how lifestyle factors like diet, gut health, and sleep interconnect so they can guide patients with practical, evidence-based advice that goes beyond prescriptions.
👉 To register for our next masterclass, please click here: https://linktr.ee/docpreneur
