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6 Things NOT to Do in Bed (if you want to sleep better!)

In order to get a good night's rest you should make your bedroom a sleep sanctuary (6 Photos)

Ronnie Koenig on Aug 21, 2012 at 12:42PM

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6 Things NOT to Do in Bed (if you want to sleep better!)

Jeff Sarpa/Getty Images

Nighttime Noshing

Did you know that some of the most common bedtime habits may be keeping you from getting a good night’s sleep too? For example, if you eat a heavy meal right before bed, it’s harder to fall asleep. That’s because late-night dinners can trigger GERD (gastro esophageal reflux disorder), where stomach acid flows back into the esophagus causing acid reflux and heartburn, says Dr. Gerard Lombardo, a board certified sleep specialist and author of Sleep To Save Your Life. This can make sleep uncomfortable. If you must snack, try a protein/carb combo like a bowl of cereal, peanut butter on whole-grain toast, or cheese and crackers. “Proteins contribute to elevated tryptophan levels, and complex carbohydrates help make the tryptophan available to promote sleep,” says Dr. Lombardo.

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- eating in bed,
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