All too often, we eat and drink without thinking about the effects. That afternoon cup of coffee seems like a good idea at the time. The dinnertime wine may appear a fitting celebration of the day's success. But that same drink can prove an enemy of restful sleep. Coffee contains caffeine, as do many teas, chocolate and cola drinks.
Caffeine is a stimulant, which means it has an alerting or wake-up effect.
For some people, a small amount of caffeine early in the day can cause problems falling asleep ten to 12 hours later. Others have learned to avoid caffeine-containing drinks and foods within six hours of bedtime. For example, the more coffee you drink each day, the less powerful its effect as a stimulant. Try eliminating caffeinated food and drink after lunch for a few weeks. If so, you may have identified the culprit.