UPDATE: |Sleep expert warns popular Easter treat could have more caffeine than coffee News

Even nutrition aficionados might not realise the impact

Easter and spring inevitably bring a slew of chocolate treats and Easter eggs into every pantry across the country. However, few people realise just how packed these snacks are with caffeine and sugar.

This combination can wreak havoc on your sleep cycle, according to sleep expert Hannah Shore. She highlighted that dark chocolate Easter treats can be an unsuspecting culprit.

Many people see the bitter treat as a healthier alternative to normal chocolate, but the higher the cacao content, the higher the caffeine levels. A 3.5 ounce bar of 60% dark chocolate can hold up to 86mg of caffeine according to Cococlectic.

In comparison, the average soda can has 40mg of caffeine while the standard cup of coffee has around 80mg of caffeine. So even this ‘healthier’ alternative holds some downsides.

The Mattress Online expert noted: “Caffeine blocks sleep-promoting receptors in your brain, which can make it more difficult to get a good night’s rest if you’ve consumed too much in the hours when you should be winding down. While nobody is suggesting you cut out dark chocolate on the Easter weekend, be mindful of when you’re eating certain kinds.

“Try to limit how much dark chocolate you’re eating up to a few hours before bedtime and opt for smaller portions earlier in the day. If you fancy a treat later on the day then milk or white chocolate contains less caffeine so will reduce your risk of distributed sleep.”

The head of sleep science also recommended cutting down on sugar overall as the sun starts to set, especially for children. Hannah continued: “We’re all going to enjoy our fair share of sugar treats over Easter but, for children in particular, it’s important for parents to understand the effects that these could be having on our children’s sleep. Some studies suggest that those with diets high in sugar do not get the right amount of deep sleep.

“Try to make sure children aren’t eating excessive amounts of chocolate before bed. As a general rule, little and often is better than letting them consume a whole egg in the hours when they should be winding down. While it might be a Bank Holiday, no parent wants to stay up late into Sunday night with a restless child!”

Another simple way to mitigate the energy high of these sugary treats is by staying hydrated. Both caffeine and chocolate dehydrate the body which can also make it harder to fall asleep by causing muscle cramps and headaches.

Drinking water can also speed up the process of caffeine leaving your body. Although this effect does take time to be noticeable.

Ultimately, Hannah added: “Just one disrupted night during the Easter holidays won’t have any long-term effects on the family. Children might be a bit grumpy or tired the next day, but getting back into a regular routine will sort things out quickly.”