Overview

• A Frontiers in Psychology survey of 1,082 Canadian undergraduates found that dairy products and late-night eating were linked to higher reports of disturbing or vivid dreams.
• The connection appeared strongest in participants with lactose intolerance or food allergies, where gastrointestinal symptoms likely disrupted sleep and prompted more nightmare recall.
• Researchers emphasize the study’s correlational design and note that shared factors such as stress or general health could influence both diet and dream experiences.
• The team plans controlled experiments comparing cheese and non-dairy foods across diverse age groups and dietary backgrounds to determine whether specific foods truly alter sleep and dream content.
• Experts warn that longstanding folklore and personal beliefs about cheese may bias perceptions of food-dependent dreaming even when other factors are at play.