Cheesy nightmares

Exploring what fuels those night time terrors!

Last week, I experienced a series of nightmares that led to sleep paralysis, something I hadn’t encountered in quite some time (although I’m no stranger to night sweats and sleep paralysis since childhood). I found myself in that half-asleep, half-awake state, with my body in full “fight or flight” mode. I felt a sense of fear, but I couldn’t coax my body to move and inspect my bedroom, reassuring my mind of my safety. What made it even weirder was the blending of sounds in my dream; it felt and sounded so real that there might have been an actual external sound that triggered my awakening.

Now, let’s backtrack a bit. Lately, I’ve been on an experimental journey, both with my diet and my mind. As a functional nutritionist and clinical herbalist (in training), my number one case study is, well, me. The first step in this practitioner-patient relationship I have with myself is being an observer of my life. I’ve become hyper-aware of my daily routines, trying to pinpoint and better understand the intricacies of the mind-body connection and my overall health.

For the most part (about 90% of the time), I steer clear of dairy, refined sugar, and gluten. I firmly believe that these three substances can be significant health disruptors for some of us. Given that I’m working on some health issues, it make sense for me.

But here’s the catch: I’m only human, and life sometimes gets in the way. And on one particularly rough day, I found solace in my ultimate comfort food—cheesy popcorn.

Cheesy popcorn, to me, is everything.

It’s that delightful blend of salty, buttery, seasoned popcorn, topped with perfectly melted cheese, best enjoyed in front of a comforting movie, book, or TV show. This indulgence had been off my regular menu for a while, but sometimes I need to tend to my inner child. So, on that particular night, I surrendered to the deliciousness of cheesy popcorn. It was also a bit later than my usual dinner time, which may have added to the digestive discomfort.

As I finally went to bed, my belly full of cheesy popcorn goodness, I tried to coerce my body into falling asleep. My bedroom faces the backyard, surrounded by trees, in a very quiet and safe neighborhood. Many people have open backyards, so it’s usually feels safe and peaceful. I can’t recall the nightmares leading up to the climax, but I knew they were there because I was a hot, sweaty, cortisol-filled mess when this part of the dream emerged.

I was lying in bed when I heard a crashing noise. In my dream, I saw two teenage boys riding their bikes through my backyard, up to no good. Both of them skidded and crashed their bikes into my window. The noise was loud and vivid. I thought there were intruders in my room while I slept, and it felt invasive. As I attempted to process this with my logical brain, my body remained paralyzed. I couldn’t move. I lay there for what felt like 10-15 minutes, though it’s hard to tell how long it truly was. Eventually, I managed to reposition myself in bed, discarded some blankets to cool down, and caught my breath.

When I woke up, I knew it was the cheese that fueled my nightmares. This experience reinforced the incredible mind-body connection we often hear about. Just take a moment to appreciate how insane it is that what we eat can impact our dreams. It makes you wonder why this isn’t common knowledge.

If I had known this a couple of decades ago, I might have slept more peacefully during my childhood instead of fleeing from imaginary monsters all night.

Let’s Break It Down: How Food Can Impact Our Dreams

Sleep is a restorative time for the body, even if you’re resting, all those little workers inside your body aren’t.

Sleep is a critical time during which various essential processes occur:

The brain organizes itself, storing what it needs and clearing out the rest. (In Ayurveda, dreams are seen as a way to process unprocessed moments from the day- to complete the incomplete).
The liver filters blood to remove toxins (yes, sleep is vital).
Regulation of key hormones.
Regulation of glucose metabolism.
And a host of other complex physiological processes.

In short, sleep is when the body restores and repairs itself. It’s an essential time.

Clearly, our body has a lot on its sleep-time to-do list, but you know what’s not on that list? Digesting cheesy popcorn. That’s why it’s generally advisable not to eat in the hours leading up to bedtime.

In the words of the renowned Ayurvedic Dr. Vasant Lad: “Disturbance of prana is another factor in majja dhatu dushti. If the gastrointestinal tract is clogged with ama (toxins), the person may have nightmares. Eating a late dinner may also cause nightmares because the heavy food in the stomach blocks the flow of prana. So, nightmares are due to blocked prana in majja dhatu.”

(Prana is your life force, and majja dhatu corresponds to the nervous system.)

In simpler terms, complex bodily systems are at work as we sleep, involving hormones, blood sugar balance, and the use of amino acids. When these processes are disturbed, chaos can ensue—neurotransmitter and hormonal chaos.

The best part is, you don’t have to take my word for it. Exploring yourself is one of the most exciting learning endeavors you can embark on. If you experience sleep disturbances or nightmares, put on your observant hat without judgment, and watch. Look for clues and patterns. See what ultimately works or doesn’t work for you.

If you face nighttime troubles, here are a few things to try:

Go to sleep before 10:30 PM.
Avoid eating within three hours of bedtime.
Be mindful of engaging in stressful activities before bed, which can come from movies, TV, music, emails, family matters, and more.
Set aside time to wind down and relax before bed.
Work on identifying food sensitivities and remove problematic foods from your diet.
Keep your sleeping environment dark and cool.

Wishing you all the sweet and restful dreams you deserve.
-Lila C.