We all get nightmares here and there but is there a common denominator for when and why we get them? Whether the recurring scary dream is of you falling into an abyss, being eaten alive by spiders or fighting off the zombie apocalypse, nightmares are inevitable. But what if we told you they might have something to do with what you are eating?
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What food has been said to cause nightmares?
The age-old urban legend saying that cheese can cause nightmares has finally been put to the test, and rightfully so, we think. After all, could you imagine being an artisanal cheesemaker and being told that the product you so meticulously work hard to produce is causing people to have nightmares?! So, in order to sort out the matter once and for all, the British Cheese Board decided to set the record straight with a study on the contentious topic.
The study, which was carried out in 2005, found that the two variables were not related whatsoever. There you have it, cheese lovers; your beloved dairy product is not the reason you are having vividly wicked dreams.
In order to conduct the study, researchers sampled 200 people and monitored their dreams after consuming 20 grams of cheese half an hour before going to sleep. The results? 67% of participants who remembered their dreams assured not having had any nightmares. However... other details caught the attention of researchers...
No nightmares but...
Through nightmares were not found to be a result of eating cheese, the type of cheese that was consumed was found to have an impact on the intensity of participants' dreams. 85% of participants who consumed Stilton—an English cheese—recounted their dreams as being completely crazy and nonsensical.
On the other hand, other participants who were fed Red Leicester—another type of English cheese—reported dreams to be more peaceful and linear—not jumping from one erratic event to the other. Interestingly enough, those who were given cheddar cheese were likelier to dream of celebrities...
So, what cheese will you be eating tonight?
