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Is your avocado habit keeping you up at night?

Avocado
Hands up, who’s guilty of having avocado on toast before bed? [Photo: Getty]

Whether it’s been a long day at work or it’s finally time for Sunday brunch at the local hipster hotspot, avocados feature heavily in every millennial’s diet.

But it turns out, the fleshy fruit may not be as good for our health as previously believed with one expert warning that it could be responsible for sleepless nights.

According to Ryvita nutritionist Rob Hobson, avocados are high in amino acids which help to stimulate the brain – meaning they could be behind our nightly tossing and turning.

Hobson told The Express, “Aubergines, avocado, nuts and soy sauce all contain an amino acid called tyramine. This amino acid may inhibit sleep, as it causes the release of a hormone called norepinephrine that stimulates the brain.”

But amino acids aren’t the only thing you should avoid before trying to catch some shut-eye, as sugar can also leave you counting sheep.

You might want to rethink tonight’s avocado on toast [Photo: Getty]
You might want to rethink tonight’s avocado on toast [Photo: Getty]

According to the National Sleep Foundation, late night Netflix snacks will have a direct impact on your sleep pattern as too much sugar before bed reduces the activity of orexin cells – which control a person’s arousal and wakefulness.

So how can we ensure that we get a good night’s rest ahead of a Monday morning meeting?

A recent study conducted by the University of Adelaide discovered that introducing more vitamin B6 to your diet could help to promote sleep. So for those reading this slumped over their work computer, it might be a good idea to add B6-rich sweet potatoes and bananas to this week’s shopping list.

Meanwhile, moon milk has been stealing the ‘likes’ on social media this year as the pre-bedtime drink is widely hailed for its soothing properties.

“Moon milk contains a range of different herbs and spices including a herb that is used traditionally in ayurvedic medicine, an adaptogen called ashwaganda made with withania somnifera which means sleep inducing,” medical herbalist, Dr Chris Etheridge, revealed.

So there you have it.

If you’re reaching for a second coffee before midday, it might be worth giving avocado on toast a miss every once and a while. It might just mean coming up with new recipes to showcase on Instagram…


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Read more from Yahoo Style UK:

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5 simple tricks to help you fall asleep quickly

The great avocado debate: Is the millennial staple suitable for vegans or not?