Do a good dream or a nightmare have anything to do with what we ate the night before? Is that pizza slice, late-night gulab jamun, or leftover biryani sneaking into our subconscious? In short, are food and dreams connected?
Some people swear by it. A chocolate bar before bed, and suddenly they’re running from monsters. A bowl of dal-chawal, and they float peacefully among the clouds. So, does sugary food consumption really lead to nightmares?
Science, so far, plays it safe and says, “No direct evidence.” No definitive research proves that food dictates the plotline of your dreams. But—there’s a “but”—surveys and sleep studies show that people often report dream patterns influenced by what they eat. A cheese-heavy dinner, for instance, gets blamed for some pretty wild dream sequences.
Here’s where the gut-brain connection sneaks in. What passes through the gut doesn’t stay in the gut—it sends chemical messengers upstairs to the brain, influencing mood, sleep quality, and yes, possibly dream activity. After all, serotonin (the “happy hormone”) is largely produced in the gut. If your gut is uneasy, chances are your dream studio might be too.
Enter my newly coined word: “Dreamylogists.” They say that a balanced, nutrient-rich diet sets the stage for better sleep, which in turn improves dream quality.
So, while food may not write your dream script, it may influence whether you’re watching a horror flick or a melodious song-dance sequence from a Hindi movie.
Promod Puri.com 