We don’t all know that diving into a plate of jalapeno nachos or eating a greasy sandwich will likely make it harder to fall asleep later in the night. Greasy or spicy food can make you bloated and leave you uncomfortable making it hard to fall asleep. It's smart to stay away from those foods within 4-6 hours of your bedtime.  There are also healthy dinner options that can make you toss and turn all night. Here are five of the most surprising dinner foods keeping you up at night.

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    1

    Hard Cheese

    One serving of cheese equals roughly one thin sandwich-size slice or a couple of dice size cubes. Most of us eat a lot more than that in one sitting which keeps the body from getting quality sleep. Cheeses higher in saturated fat such as Swiss, Cheddar, Blue, and Parmesan can be challenging to digest, especially when laying in bed.

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    2

    Beef

    Beef serves as an excellent protein and iron source but the protein and fat in the typical burger can take a while to digest. For that reason, any dense, beefy dish should be avoided for at least four hours before you plan to go to bed. Ground beef in a burger or stroganoff is too heavy and hard to digest close to bedtime due to its high saturated fat and protein content

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    3

    Dark Chocolate

    A square or two of dark chocolate has about a quarter of the caffeine as a cup of coffee, and about half the caffeine as a cup of green or black tea. It takes 6 to 10 hours to eliminate caffeine, so unless you’re a fast metabolizer stay away from dark chocolate.

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    4

    Cold Cuts and Processed Meat

    Because of their high sodium count, these products can leave you feeling bloated, and retaining fluids before the causes sleep stealing discomfort.

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