Sleep expert warns one particular bedtime snack could be keeping you awake at night

Insomnia can be caused by what you eat late at night and one snack in particular could actually be preventing you from falling asleep

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Lying away at night and not being able to fall asleep is an incredibly frustrating feeling.

It is estimated that up to 15% of Irish people suffer from insomnia and there are many things that can cause the sleep disorder, including stress and anxiety, drinking caffeine before bed, or simply having something on your mind.

However, a sleep expert has warned that a particular late-night salty snack eaten just before bedtime could actually be the cause of your insomnia, the Mirror reports.

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According to Katherine Hall, a sleep expert with over 13 years of clinical experience in public and private sector, there are certain foods that should be avoided in order for people to improve their sleep. Get Laid Beds has joined forces with Katherine to look into how a change in diet culture could be the key to unlocking issues with insomnia.

But there's one particular type of food that could be making the issue worse for you - salty food such as crisps or salted nuts. That's right, the snacks you might be munching on while you watch a film before you go to bed could be keeping you awake.

Katherine explained: "This can often go under the radar when we talk to people about their nutrition and sleep. While some are obvious such as high sugar intake, salt can be overlooked. If you can't fall asleep or struggle to stay asleep, salt could be the root of the issue. Sodium-high meals result in fluid retention and increased blood pressure, making it hard for the body to switch off completely after eating snacks like crisps or salted nuts.

"This then results in something called superficial sleep, where the sleep isn’t very deep and can often involve disturbances like going to the toilet more, as studies show this can be brought on more by too much salt in the diet."

Instead, Katherine recommends having a banana before bed - which most people wouldn't associate with sleeping, but rather something you eat to give you energy in the morning or before a workout. However, according to the sleep expert, it can help put you in the right mood for bed.

She explained: "This one may raise a few eyebrows and for good reason, as bananas are so heavily associated with starting the day as opposed to ending it. However, bananas contain both tryptophan, an amino acid that promotes melatonin and magnesium, a muscle relaxant. Both of which promote relaxation and sleep so put the crisps aside and have a banana before bed."