Myth
Does cheese give you nightmares?
Dairy tops the list of foods people blame for strange dreams. Whether it causes them is unproven.
When researchers asked people which foods they blamed for strange or disturbing dreams, dairy came first. But blaming a food is not the same as the food causing the dream: a late, heavy meal can disturb sleep, and disturbed sleep makes dreams easier to remember. So far, no study has shown cheese itself writes nightmares.
How we check a myth
We look for studies that test a claim, not only surveys of what people believe. When a claim is popular but untested, we label it exploratory and say so plainly.
Sources
Evidence label: Exploratory. What the labels mean.
Keep reading
All of the Atlas
MythThe theory that never was
The "Senoi dream theory" made dream control famous in the 1950s. It was largely invented.
Old wisdomA prayer for a quiet night
Compline asks for protection and a quiet night before sleep.
LessonA simple breath with a long exhale
In a month-long study, a double inhale and a long, slow exhale lifted mood and lowered breathing rate more than mindfulness meditation.