Clean eating = trouble sleeping??

janejellyroll wrote: »

emmab0902 wrote: »

lemurcat12 wrote: »

I suspect it's unrelated to the diet, but if you are eating the same calories and have just cut out the "junk," everything else can't have stayed the same, as you'd have to make up the calories elsewhere. So are you eating more at meals (can't tell if the "junk" was between meals), eating more of something else, what?

Also, it seems like the issue is not being able to fall asleep -- not feeling tired, feeling too tired, mind racing, feeling stressed? Any other changes? Have you tried the normal sleep hygiene stuff: http://healthysleep.med.harvard.edu/healthy/getting/overcoming/tips

Oops when I said nothing has changed well yes obviously I have replaced the empty calories from junk with more protein and vegetables and good nutritional food. Yes I use sleep hygiene as a matter of course.

If you've replaced some foods with other foods, then things have changed.

Yes, this is exactly what I was getting at. OP, you are apparently eating more fiber and protein. Look at the specific foods added/increased in volume.

But honestly, our minds have a tendency to associate changes that happened at the same time with each other even if there is no real link. It's possible that something else is going on with your sleep and your dietary changes just happened around the same time.

This is what I think is most likely unless there is some greater reason to associate it with food that is not being revealed.

snowflake954 wrote: »

emmab0902 wrote: »

margotlovesyou wrote: »

That happened to me too - it’s because you’re hungry when you go to bed. I was waking up 4 times a night and it was driving me mad! Our brains are a lot more alert when we’re hungry, so it doesn’t let you sleep. Save some calories so you can eat half a banana before bed. I sleep just fine once I figured that out!

I never go to bed hungry. Usually have something containing protein before bedtime. Could be just a coincidence that it's happened after I've cleaned up my diet!

Easy to prove. Start eating "junk" again within your calorie goals and see if your sleeplessness goes away. That way you'll know.

I don't think that would be a very good test, given that it isn't blinded at all...

wow, this is the second time sleep problems have come up. I'm glad to read this because I almost dread going to bed since I've changed my eating. I almost fall asleep then "wake" up & get restless. This happens untill about 3:30 am when I finally sleep till around 8 or so. Before I had no problem falling asleep in 20min & only woke up to go potty. I take a benedryl most nights but not always. I've changed my diet mostly by cutting out rice (I have it once in a while). I used to eat it almost every day. I also cut out potato chips, cream cheese & oil for sauteeing on a regular basis. I never put the two together that it may be my diet. I eat a lot of veggies & about the same amount of protein as before & alot more variety of foods like yogurt & eggs that I hardly ever ate before

Good way to add lots of magnesium to your diet: throw a handful (1/8 cup) of raw pumpkin seeds in smoothies, salads, soups, etc.

CaptainJoy wrote: »

Sorry this makes you mad. There are chemicles in most foods. That’s what I meant.

There are chemicals in all foods.

Water-Chemical
Sugar-Chemical
Salt-Chemical
etc.