How to sleep: The best and worst Christmas treats for getting a good night's sleep

If you’d like to know what Christmas treats are disrupting your sleep, and those that make you drift off into dreamland, Dr Verena Senn has the answers. This way, you can tailor your grazing, hearty meals and drinks to benefit you the most.

With a PhD in neurobiology, from Ernst Struengmann Research Institute, in Germany, and nearly 15 years in research on the brain, sleep patterns and psychological behaviour, Dr Verena Senn knows what she’s talking about.

When it comes to Christmas, overindulgence tends to be the way, but Dr Senn advises against food comas.

“Sorry to be a Scrooge,” she says, “Food comas may feel a part of the festive season, but it spells a disaster for your digestive system.

“Cheeseboard lovers will be pleased to know that cheddar cheese has high levels of tryptophan,” she added.

“The crackers you eat it on can help too,” she beamed. “Eating crackers, stuffing, potatoes and Yorkshire Pudding causes your body to release extra insulin to keep your blood sugar levels balanced.

“This extra insulin boost causes an increased intake of most amino acids into your system, leaving you lethargic… but don’t overdo it,” she warns.

Be aware that anyone suffering from diabetes will benefit from carbohydrates that have a high glycemic index, such as nuts, rather than a low glycemic index.

“This leads to less dream-like experiences and inhibits its benefits for emotional processing during REM sleep.

“And with that, the benefits of that lovely melatonin contained in wine are completely erased by the effects of the alcohol.”

As well as ensuring your eating right this festive period, a good slumber isn’t going to happen if you don’t sleep on a comfy mattress.