How food and drug intake affects sleep

According to author Dr. Meir Kryger, a person's daily medication intake and nutritional habits can be a determining factor in how well they sleep at night.

Kryger, author of Can't Sleep, Can't Stay Awake: A Woman's Guide to Sleep Disorders joined Balance Television host Dr. Marla Shapiro to talk about the effects of medication and which foods are good -- and those not so good -- for getting a good night's rest.

Iron

Liver, artichockes and spinach contain a lot of iron, Kryger said. Iron is important, especially for women who are menstruating or pregnant, because iron deficiency can cause sleep problems, including restless leg syndrome.

To learn more about good sources of iron from registered dietitian Leslie Beck, read Avoiding iron deficiency.

Allergies

For allergy sufferers, non-drowsy antihistamines are best. The previous generation of allergy medications often caused individuals to become extremely sleepy, which caused them to be so groggy during the day that they were dysfunctional.

Caffeine in Medications

Many medications, including those for menstrual cramps and headaches, contain caffeine. Some, Kryger says, have as much caffeine as a cup of coffee. People need to read the labels -- especially the fine print -- because some of them can keep you awake.