Trouble Sleeping Caused by Famous New Jersey Product
We all have trouble sleeping from time to time. Some of us have a recurring issue and cannot fall asleep. My mom has had this problem for years, she only…

NEW JERSEY, UNITED STATES – 06/26: Community garden.
(Photo by John Greim/Light Rocket via Getty Images)We all have trouble sleeping from time to time. Some of us have a recurring issue and cannot fall asleep. My mom has had this problem for years, she only sleeps a couple hours a night. When I was a teenager, I worked the overnight shift. Then when the weekend arrived, I had trouble sleeping because my body clock kept me awake.
Eating right before bed is one way to mess up your sleeping pattern. However, sometimes it’s simply what we’re eating or not eating. According to a new study by Bed Kingdom, certain foods can help us sleep. The study found that some foods or snacks can help you sleep longer and more soundly. The sleep experts suggest certain foods that have the right nutrients to help you rest.
Good Foods
One of my favorites, peanut butter is one snack that will enhance your slumber. They say it “stabilizes your blood sugar levels and supports muscle growth.”
I’ve heard that peanut butter is also something that you could live on even if it’s the only thing you ate. It’s because it has all the vitamins and minerals needed to be healthy. It also has some tryptophan to help you relax and prevent trouble sleeping.
Some other nuts can help because they contain melatonin, magnesium, and zinc.
If you wake up in the night with a craving, string cheese can help. It’s got the “fats and proteins to satisfy your hunger and cravings.” Like peanut butter, it also has a bit of tryptophan to fall asleep faster.
Here’s some awesome news. Eating dark chocolate at least an hour before bed helps you get a more productive night’s sleep. Eaten in moderation the properties promote the production of serotonin, which calms, relaxes, and reduces stress with antioxidants and flavanols.
My wife and I often fall asleep while watching a movie. If the same is true for you it may be the popcorn we’re eating. Popcorn prevents trouble sleeping because it’s got ample fiber and carbs. It also produces serotonin which helps you sleep. This all prepares your body for sleep.
Jersey Tomatoes
There are also some foods that you should avoid. These foods will cause you to have trouble sleeping.
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but the New Jersey state vegetable is ruining your sleep. Jersey tomatoes may be the best, but tomatoes could keep you awake. It’s ok to eat them throughout the day because they have vitamin C and potassium. However, if eaten near bedtime you may have trouble sleeping. “Tomatoes can trigger indigestion, heartburn, and acid reflux, wrecking your sleep and keeping you awake for hours.”
Other foods to avoid for better sleep are chips, chicken, and toast.
Caution: 6 Foods You May Want to Avoid at Restaurants
As you sit at a restaurant, a diner may find themselves contemplating certain aspects of the establishment. Questions may naturally arise. How well-maintained is this place? to Are the ingredients in the dishes as fresh as they claim to be? It’s only human to wonder about the cleanliness of the establishment and the credibility of certain food items. But what foods should you avoid at restaurants?
Dining out at restaurants has become an integral part of many of our lives. They offer convenience, diverse cuisines, and enjoyable experiences. While it’s undoubtedly enjoyable, it’s important to approach restaurant dining with mindfulness and consideration.
Occasional restaurant pitfalls.
While most establishments prioritize food safety and quality, there can be occasional pitfalls. One category of concern is seafood. Seafood dishes, particularly those featuring raw or undercooked ingredients, can present risks of foodborne illnesses.
Additionally, some fried foods may be prepared using reused or overheated cooking oil, resulting in a less-than-appetizing taste and potential health risks. Fried dishes that appear excessively greasy or have a rancid smell should raise a red flag, suggesting that they may not be the best option on the menu.
More foods you should avoid at restaurants.
It may also be wise to be cautious about certain buffet offerings. While buffets offer a variety of choices, the food can remain exposed to varying temperatures for extended periods, increasing the risk of contamination. Opting for freshly prepared dishes or ordering from the menu may be a safer alternative.
Dishes with unidentifiable ingredients or unusually low prices could raise concerns about their quality or sourcing. It doesn’t hurt to ask about unfamiliar ingredients and to be wary of menu items that seem too good to be true.
By keeping an eye out for certain dishes, we can make choices that put our health first without sacrificing any enjoyment. But it's not just on us to be careful. Restaurants need to do their part too. And keep in mind that most restaurants work hard at keeping up top-notch hygiene and food safety.
If you want to minimize your risk of food poisoning on your next dining out, check out these foods you probably should avoid at restaurants.
Tap Water
Even with filtration in place, restaurant water might not be as pristine as one would assume. A study conducted by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences revealed that approximately 3-10% of water systems in North America have annually violated health standards set by the Safe Drinking Water Act, and this includes restaurants, as reported by the water filtration company, Quench. Unfortunately, it's not uncommon to find germs and chemicals in restaurant tap water that could potentially affect the health of patrons. Common impurities detected in tap water supplies consist of microorganisms like bacteria, germs, parasites, and viruses, as well as substances like lead, chlorine, aluminum, pesticides, and others.

naumoid/ Getty Images
Raw Sprouts
If sprouts aren’t properly stored and cleaned, they can become quite risky. Unfortunately, when ordering food at a restaurant, we may not witness this process. Sprouts are commonly cultivated in warm, moist conditions, which makes them an ideal breeding ground for bacteria, according to Health Digest. Recent outbreaks of E. coli and Salmonella have been potentially linked to these greens.

Nataliya Kushnir/ Getty Images
Drink Garnishes
Bartenders often don't have to follow the same stringent sanitary standards as the kitchen staff. As a result, the fruits used in drinks are likely to be unwashed, and they might sit out for days without refrigeration. According to Good Housekeeping, it's worth giving a second thought to that citrus fruit you might be adding to your drink while dining out. A study revealed that 70% of these sliced fruits carry "over 25 different types of germs." Contrary to popular belief, even alcohol doesn't seem to do the trick in killing these germs. Good Morning America visited six restaurants and discovered that the lemons were teeming with "fecal matter" and even harbored the dreaded E. coli bacteria.

baibaz/ Getty Images
Fish
Consider giving those impromptu "All-You-Can-Eat" fish special days a second thought. The fish served on such occasions is often leftovers from a shipment received a few days prior, which means it may not be at its freshest. According to Healthline, fish not stored at the proper temperature might become contaminated with a toxin known as histamine, which is produced by bacteria in the fish. Moreover, Healthline highlights that cooking at regular temperatures does not eliminate histamine, making it a potential cause of food poisoning.

rez-art/ Getty Images
Bottled Ketchup
Whether your ketchup bottle is already on the table at a restaurant or brought to you by the server, chances are it has been handled by multiple people throughout the day or even longer. Making it a potential carrier of germs. Reader's Digest explains that the reason these same bottles keep circulating is that the ketchup in each of them is often "married." This means that as the volume of ketchup decreases in individual bottles, servers will combine the contents of several bottles into one. However, there is a downside to this practice: you may end up consuming ketchup of an unknown age or expiration date, leading to an unpleasant taste.

DGLimages/ Getty Images
Fresh Squeezed Juices
It might be worth reconsidering your choice, just as you skip adding garnishes to your drink. Freshly squeezed juices can be teamed with bacteria, unlike pasteurized juices. A study conducted by the MSU Extension reveals that most commercially sold juices in the United States are processed or pasteurized to eliminate harmful foodborne illness bacteria. However, when fruits are freshly squeezed into juice, there is a risk of harmful bacteria lingering in the finished product.

ValentynVolkov/ Getty Images