What You Eat Impacts How You Sleep
All scientists agree that nearly all of us eat too much, or eat improper food.
Most of them say that we sleep too much, or try to sleep too much.
They advise simple diet, varied but not heavy.
It is probable that the early human being ate as the wild animals do, to appease hunger, and had to eat whatever he could find without regard to taste.
As civilization advanced and he learned ways of getting increased returns from nature, he began to select and choose what he should eat.
In this way he developed an "appetite" as a separate function than natural hunger, and as his knowledge increased, and his taste became more and more refined, appetite gradually took the place of hunger.
These days, people rarely know the pleasure of satisfying real hunger.
Because of habit, the appetite stirs as often as three or five times a day and we gratify it.
We must have certain foods prepared in a certain way.
Eating becomes an end in itself, rather than merely a means to an end.
If appetite is fully indulged, he becomes heavy, suffers from indigestion and sleeplessness, talks of stomach trouble and consequent loss of appetite.
It is not strange that the masses have not dreamed of eating as a cause of sleeplessness and ill health, though they may dream in consequence of it.
It is generally believed that a hearty meal of any indigestible food immediately before bed is bad for sleep: yet animals and primitive men always sleep after they are gorged.
But few recognize that the whole plan of eating may be responsible for sleeplessness or excessive sleepiness.
For, like fatigue, food may either bring or prevent sleep.
In these days not even the most fastidious will object to a discussion of the ethics and aesthetics of feeding.
It is no longer "the gratification of a vulgar necessity," but a matter of keen scientific interest.
Colleges give courses in the chemistry of food that we may know what combinations it is wise to make, while some of the leading universities have made severe practical tests of some of the new fads in eating.
Insomnia sufferers should be sure to consider what they eat, and leave an amount of time between their last meal for the day, and the time they fall asleep.
Most of them say that we sleep too much, or try to sleep too much.
They advise simple diet, varied but not heavy.
It is probable that the early human being ate as the wild animals do, to appease hunger, and had to eat whatever he could find without regard to taste.
As civilization advanced and he learned ways of getting increased returns from nature, he began to select and choose what he should eat.
In this way he developed an "appetite" as a separate function than natural hunger, and as his knowledge increased, and his taste became more and more refined, appetite gradually took the place of hunger.
These days, people rarely know the pleasure of satisfying real hunger.
Because of habit, the appetite stirs as often as three or five times a day and we gratify it.
We must have certain foods prepared in a certain way.
Eating becomes an end in itself, rather than merely a means to an end.
If appetite is fully indulged, he becomes heavy, suffers from indigestion and sleeplessness, talks of stomach trouble and consequent loss of appetite.
It is not strange that the masses have not dreamed of eating as a cause of sleeplessness and ill health, though they may dream in consequence of it.
It is generally believed that a hearty meal of any indigestible food immediately before bed is bad for sleep: yet animals and primitive men always sleep after they are gorged.
But few recognize that the whole plan of eating may be responsible for sleeplessness or excessive sleepiness.
For, like fatigue, food may either bring or prevent sleep.
In these days not even the most fastidious will object to a discussion of the ethics and aesthetics of feeding.
It is no longer "the gratification of a vulgar necessity," but a matter of keen scientific interest.
Colleges give courses in the chemistry of food that we may know what combinations it is wise to make, while some of the leading universities have made severe practical tests of some of the new fads in eating.
Insomnia sufferers should be sure to consider what they eat, and leave an amount of time between their last meal for the day, and the time they fall asleep.
