Cheese & Nightmares

[Wispy68]

Does eating cheese before going to sleep really cause nighmares? If so, why?

[Gef]

It doesn't necessarily cause nightmares but there is a chemical in cheese which causes you to dream more vividly. I'll post more info if I can find it.

[xyzzyplugh]

Mature cheese is a source of tyramine, an interesting amino-acid that can cause serotonin to be released in the body, which can cause vivid dreams. Other well-known tyramine-containing foods include beer, wine, Marmite, pickled herring, chicken livers, yeast, bananas, avocados and chocolate. Incidentally, if you want more vivid dreams, the flowery skirt brigade recommend various herbs. Try warming some dried mugwort near your bed, eating some watercress, drinking some plantain tea or burning peppermint as an incense.

[5029]

It is also harder to digest, therefore preventing your body from falling into as deep a sleep, so you remember your dreams more than usual

[Wispy68]

Cheers. The mugwort thing sounds pretty interesting, xyzzyplugh!