More than 1 in 20 university students reported that specific foods altered the nature of their dreams. Sweets and dairy products were most linked to disturbing or bizarre dream content, according to a new study published in Frontiers in Psychology.
The researchers surveyed 1,082 undergraduate students and found that 5.5% attributed changes in their dreams to recent food consumption. Among these reports, 31% cited desserts and sweets, and 22% identified dairy products as contributors to unsettling or unusual dreams. By contrast, fruits, vegetables, and herbal teas were more frequently associated with better sleep quality. A total of 40.2% of participants reported that certain foods either worsened (24.7%) or improved (20.1%) their sleep generally.
Led by Tore Nielsen of Montreal University, the researchers observed that patients with self-reported lactose intolerance and food allergies were significantly more likely to experience frequent nightmares and impaired sleep. Gastrointestinal symptoms were identified as a key mediating factor, especially in patients with lactose intolerance. The data suggest a possible gut-brain mechanism that influences sleep and dream quality in those with dietary sensitivities.
Unhealthy eating behaviors—such as evening eating and emotional overeating—were linked to more negative dream content and lower overall sleep quality. Conversely, patients who practiced healthier dietary habits, including eating earlier in the evening and following hunger and satiety cues, reported higher dream recall and more positive dream experiences.
The findings indicate that for certain patients, especially those with food sensitivities, dietary patterns may play a measurable role in dream content and sleep quality. Adjusting dietary behaviors in the evening may represent a simple, nonpharmacological approach to improving sleep in susceptible populations.
Disclosures: The researchers declared no commercial or financial conflicts of interest. One or more authors were editorial board members of Frontiers at the time of submission, but that did not influence the peer review process or the final decision.
Source: Frontiers in Psychology
