Is It Bad to Eat Shrimp Before Bed?

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Many people enjoy a nice seafood dinner, but wonder if having shrimp or other shellfish too close to bedtime can disrupt sleep. Shrimp packs a nutritional punch, but also has potential drawbacks as a pre-bed snack. In this article, we’ll explore both the pros and cons of eating shrimp before bed to determine if it’s ultimately helpful or harmful for quality sleep.

The Benefits of Pre-Bed Shrimp

First, let’s look at some of the positives of eating shrimp before turning in for the night:

  • Tryptophan Shrimp contains tryptophan, an amino acid that promotes sleep by increasing melatonin and serotonin production

  • Vitamin B12: Shrimp is high in vitamin B12 which may improve circadian rhythms and sleep-wake cycles.

  • Magnesium Abundant in shrimp magnesium relaxes muscles and nerves for restful sleep.

  • Protein: Protein-rich foods like shrimp may help increase post-meal tiredness and sleepiness.

  • Low carb: With minimal carbs, shrimp is unlikely to cause energy or blood sugar spikes that disrupt sleep.

So nutritionally speaking, shrimp is a smart pre-bed choice. But there are also some potential disadvantages to keep in mind.

The Potential Drawbacks of Shrimp Before Bed

Here are a few things to consider about eating shrimp close to bedtime:

  • High cholesterol: Shrimp is very high in cholesterol, which some people prefer to avoid eating too late.

  • Allergies: Shellfish allergies/sensitivities may be exacerbated eating shrimp at night.

  • Indigestion: Shrimp could cause heartburn, indigestion, or stomach upset that disrupts sleep.

  • Odor: Shrimp’s fishy odor can linger and be unpleasant at bedtime. Opt for low-odor, fully cooked shrimp.

  • Clean-up: Eating messy, greasy shellfish dishes could make it harder to relax and fall asleep if faced with a sink full of clean-up.

So while nutritionally sound, shrimp does come with some cautions to keep in mind if eating it close to sleep.

Tips for Eating Pre-Bed Shrimp

If you want to enjoy shrimp before bed while avoiding potential downsides, here are some tips:

  • Eat at least 2-3 hours before bed to allow full digestion.
  • Grill, boil, or bake plain shrimp to avoid heavy sauces.
  • Choose low-odor cooked shrimp instead of very fresh, fishy shrimp.
  • Pair with vegetables vs. carbohydrate-heavy sides.
  • Clean up kitchen and brush teeth well after eating to avoid odors.
  • Limit portion size to 3-5 small shrimp to avoid overeating.
  • Take antacids if prone to indigestion or heartburn.
  • Avoid shellfish if you have an allergy or sensitivity.

Best and Worst Foods for Pre-Bed

Beyond just shrimp, here is a quick overview of the best and worst foods to eat close to bedtime:

Best

  • Cherries
  • Chamomile tea
  • Almonds
  • Whole grain crackers
  • Turkey
  • Bananas
  • Oatmeal
  • Low-sugar yogurt

Worst

  • Spicy foods
  • Caffeine
  • Chocolate
  • Fatty meats
  • Carbonated beverages
  • Acidic citrus fruits
  • Cruciferous veggies (broccoli, cauliflower, etc)
  • Excess carbs and sugars

Aim for light, gentle foods that won’t cause energy spikes or digestive upset.

Supplements and Sleep Aids

If diet alone isn’t effective, supplements and sleep aids can also help relax the body and mind before bed. Some options include:

  • Melatonin supplements
  • Magnesium supplements
  • Chamomile tea
  • CBD oil
  • Valerian root
  • Tryptophan supplements

However, always consult your doctor before trying new supplements, especially if taking other medications.

The Verdict on Pre-Bed Shrimp

Overall, eating a small portion of shrimp 2-3 hours before bed is unlikely to negatively impact your sleep. Shrimp provides lots of sleep-promoting nutrients. Just be mindful of potential drawbacks like indigestion, odor, and clean-up.

Maximize the benefits by preparing shrimp in a light, easily digestible manner and allowing enough time for your body to process it before lights out. Avoid overeating right before bed.

While not necessarily the best option right before bed, shrimp can be part of an overall sleep-supportive diet when consumed strategically and in moderation at night. Pay attention to your own body’s response to determine if pre-bed shrimp helps or hinders your personal sleep patterns.

is it bad to eat shrimp before bed

Jalapeño Peppers (and Other Spicy Foods)

It’s not bad for you to cover your food in hot sauce, but you should save the Cholula for breakfast and lunch. Spicy foods like Indian food, hot sauce, and peppers like jalapeño (and especially these 11 Spiciest Chile Peppers on Earth) speed up your metabolism. This can make your body temperature rise, which can make it hard to sleep. Additionally, gastrointestinal distress (actually, were adults here — we can call 2 a. m. fits of gas 2 a. m. fits of gas) caused by spicy foods can keep even the most sincere Scoville enthusiast up all night.

9 Foods You Should Never Eat Just Before Going to Bed

Finding ways to sleep better is one of the newest trends in the health and fitness world. Getting enough healthy sleep is also popular. There are some strange drinks that can help you fall asleep, and you can eat a lot of snacks before bed to help you get stronger. Anyone who has had caffeine before bed knows that it doesn’t help you sleep, but you might not know that many other foods are also bad for you near bedtime.

Besides our 21 Sleep Hacks to Rest Your Way to a Better Body and Better Health, we also want you to stay away from these sugary, high-carb, and caffeine-filled snacks before bed.

On our list of the 9 healthiest breakfast cereals to enjoy and the 6 worst cereals to avoid at all costs, some of the healthier choices are on the list of bad things to eat before bed. Why? Because even healthy boxed cereals have carbs. They might not be as bad for you as these 10 Breakfast Cereals That Have as Much Sugar as Candy, but you should still be careful with any carbs before bed. When your body is winding down at night, carbs, especially sugars, can cause your blood sugar to rise, which can lead to weight gain that you don’t want.

Red meat — a carnivores best friend and the bane of every vegans existence. People across the country are split on whether they love or hate red meat (read 7 Reasons Why You Shouldnt Eat Red Meat — and 8 Reasons Why You Should) but one thing we should all remember is that eating a burger before bed won’t help you sleep. Actually, burgers usually have a lot of fat, and fat has more calories per gram than protein and/or carbohydrates, with nine calories per gram compared to four calories per gram of protein and/or carbohydrates. If you don’t want to spend the night tossing and turning with stomach and chest pain because of fat, don’t eat burgers before bed.

Dark chocolate can be incredibly beneficial for ones health; this isnt breaking news. But what you might not have known is that cocoa naturally has caffeine in it (about 12 milligrams of caffeine per ounce of chocolate). You probably aren’t drinking a hot cup of coffee before bed, and you should also stay away from dark chocolate. Even though a chocolate cake before bed sounds great, you might want to save your tasty chocolate cake recipe for later in the day.

Remember how sugary cereals shouldn’t be eaten at night? Well, a cup or cone from one of the world’s 30 best ice cream shops might sound good as you walk home late at night from the park or boardwalk, but you should make sure you give your body enough time to digest the high sugar content of it before going to sleep. If you eat a lot of sugar right before bed, it can keep you awake. Also, many popular ice cream brands contain dark chocolate. Pop quiz: Are you supposed to eat dark chocolate before bed? Answer: No!.

Is It Really So Bad to Eat Before Bedtime?

FAQ

Is it good to eat shrimp at night?

Other crustaceans, such as shrimp, are also good for sleep. This is because most types of fish contain vitamin B6, which helps your body make melatonin and improve the time you spend snoozing.

Is it okay to eat seafood before bed?

Scientists are now recommending eating fish to get an improved quality of sleep–especially eating tuna, sardines, salmon, anchovies, lake trout, mackerel, bluefish, and herring. Research derived from a careful study on how eating fish affects sleep shows some great results.

Is it bad to sleep after eating shrimp?

Seafood, including shrimp, lobster, crab, clams, octopus, and seaweed, are some of the best foods to eat before bed. That’s because they’re high in tryptophan, an essential amino acid that our bodies don’t produce on their own.

When should you not eat shrimp?

Many take this advice to heart, and never buy or eat seafood in the months between May and August. There are some who say a meal including more than one type of seafood ought to be reserved for the fall and Christmas, or that it should at least be restricted to months with an R (from September to April).

Is shrimp bad for You?

For folks without these conditions, shrimp and othershellfish can be included in a heart-healthy eating plan along with other lean animal and plant proteins, per the December 2019 Circulation report. Experts explain if shrimp is bad for you, considering its cholesterol and sustainability concerns.

What are the side effects of eating shrimp?

Shrimp allergy can be identified from signs and symptoms that appear after consuming shrimp or smelling it, such as itching, the appearance of red plaques on the skin, swelling in the face, especially in the eyes and mouth, and in the throat creating the feeling of a lump in the throat.

Can you eat shrimp if you have a heart problem?

The crustacean can be a delicious part of a heart-healthy diet, so long as you don’t have a shrimp allergy. People with high LDL or high triglycerides, particularly those with diabetes or at risk for heart failure, should limit cholesterol-rich foods like shrimp.

Can pregnant people eat shrimp?

Shrimp is even safe for pregnant people, as the levels of mercury in shrimp are so low, according to the American Pregnancy Association.

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