Brits urged to avoid eating 1 food before bed

Brits have been advised to avoid one piece of fruit before bed. Fruit is a go-to snack for many Brits when they get cravings for something sweet. Often, those cravings come late into the evening, once we have eaten all of our meals for the day. Fruit can be a healthy alternative to things like chocolate and biscuits, containing far fewer calories and sugar. However, certain fruits aren't a great idea before bedtime.

While some experts have revealed that certain fruits could actually help you sleep because of the presence of melatonin and vitamins. However, you should be quite selective when it comes to the fruits you should eat before you go to bed for a good night's sleep. Grapes can be a great option before bed, while other fruits could cause you discomfort and trouble in the night, meaning the next day will be a bit of a struggle for you.

Kyle Crowley, Chief Product Officer at Protein Works, told Glamour Magazine that oranges should be avoided before bed. Although oranges are a popular fruit among Brits, eating them too late could cause serious issues.

According to Kyle, acidic foods like citrus fruits can increase your chances of heartburn. This can make getting to sleep difficult as you deal with the discomfort and wait for it to pass.

"It might help to enjoy these earlier in the day rather than as a late-night treat," Kyle said. Oranges are among the foods that cause heartburn because of their high citric acid content. This increases stomach acid production, which can sometimes lead to acid coming back up.

This is why heartburn is also sometimes referred to as acid reflux. Eating oranges, especially on an empty stomach, can trigger heartburn. A number of other foods can cause this, including spicy foods, alcohol, chocolate and caffeine.

Kyle advises against a number of other foods before bedtime. Curry, for example, can lead to heartburn and can even raise the body's temperature, especially if it is a particularly spicy curry.

Meanwhile, fatty foods like fried chicken should also be avoided, as research suggests that they can reduce the quality of the sleep you get.