Your favourite spring-time treats could be playing havoc with your sleep schedule
The arrival of Easter and spring inevitably fills every pantry across the nation with chocolate treats and Easter eggs. However, few people are aware of just how loaded these snacks are with caffeine and sugar.
This combination can disrupt your sleep cycle, warns sleep expert Hannah Shore. She pointed out that dark chocolate Easter treats can be an unexpected offender.
Many view this bitter treat as a healthier alternative to regular chocolate, but the higher the cacao content, the greater the caffeine levels. According to Cococlectic, a 3.5 ounce bar of 60% dark chocolate can contain up to 86mg of caffeine.
To put it in perspective, the average soda can has 40mg of caffeine while a standard cup of coffee contains around 80mg of caffeine. So even this ‘healthier’ alternative has its drawbacks.
“Caffeine blocks sleep-promoting receptors in your brain, which can make it more difficult to get a good night’s rest if you’ve consumed too much in the hours when you should be winding down. While nobody is suggesting you cut out dark chocolate on the Easter weekend, be mindful of when you’re eating certain kinds,” noted the Mattress Online expert.
“Caffeine blocks sleep-promoting receptors in your brain, which can make it more difficult to get a good night’s rest if you’ve consumed too much in the hours when you should be winding down. While nobody is suggesting you cut out dark chocolate on the Easter weekend, be mindful of when you’re eating certain kinds.”
“Try to limit how much dark chocolate you’re eating up to a few hours before bedtime and opt for smaller portions earlier in the day. If you fancy a treat later on the day then milk or white chocolate contains less caffeine so will reduce your risk of disturbed sleep.”
The head of sleep science warned against sugary treats in the hours leading up to bedtime. Hannah shared: “We’re all going to enjoy our fair share of sugar treats over Easter but, for children in particular, it’s important for parents to understand the effects that these could be having on our children’s sleep. Some studies suggest that those with diets high in sugar do not get the right amount of deep sleep.
“Try to make sure children aren’t eating excessive amounts of chocolate before bed. As a general rule, little and often is better than letting them consume a whole egg in the hours when they should be winding down. While it might be a Bank Holiday, no parent wants to stay up late into Sunday night with a restless child!”.
She further advises combating sugar highs with hydration as caffeine and chocolate can lead to dehydration which disturbs sleep, causing muscle cramps and headaches. Water also aids in flushing caffeine from your system but this takes time to become effective.
And lastly, Hannah stated: “Just one disrupted night during the Easter holidays won’t have any long-term effects on the family. Children might be a bit grumpy or tired the next day, but getting back into a regular routine will sort things out quickly.”