A small hot chocolate from a high street coffee shop can contain nearly five teaspoons (20g) of sugar. These extra calories can cause weight gain, increasing your risk of heart disease.

If you have a major sweet tooth, hot cocoa might be the better option. But if you’re someone who enjoys richer flavors, hot chocolate is the better choice. Although hot cocoa is the sweeter drink, both hot chocolate and hot cocoa are full of sugar, so neither is really healthier than the other.

A glass of warm milk will actually make you sleep better. While milk does contain the same tryptophan that is essential for the synthesis of melatonin, it comes in such small doses it will not have any noticeable effect on falling asleep.

Cocoa also contains theobromine, a heart stimulant with diuretic properties, which may make you need the loo in the middle of the night, too. Meanwhile, the sugar can cause an energy rush, which could make you less drowsy. But if the feel-good factor outweighs everything, try Green & Black’s Organic Hot Chocolate.

Theobromine, which increases heart rate and causes sleeplessness, is found in small amounts in chocolate, especially dark. The National Sleep Foundation recommends avoiding chocolate — as well as coffee, tea and soft drinks — before bedtime.

When eaten regularly, they can help regulate your sleep cycle. Don’t worry — you can eat chocolate day and night (whew!). Dark chocolate contains serotonin, which relaxes your body and mind. Not to mention the other health benefits dark chocolate has too.

It also contains stimulants like caffeine and theobromine, but is unlikely to keep you awake at night as the amount of caffeine is very small compared to coffee. Summary Quality dark chocolate is rich in fiber, iron, magnesium, copper, manganese and a few other minerals.

The best ways to fuel your all-nighter are protein-rich goods like chicken, tuna, cheese, nuts and protein shakes, as well as fresh fruits and veggies like oranges and carrots. Soy sauce, spicy foods and chocolate also contain ingredients like tyramine and theobromine, known to boost alertness.

Five worst foods for sleep

• Chocolate. High levels of caffeine in chocolate make it a poor choice for late-night snacking.
• Cheese. While cheese is generally considered a comfort food, it is actually one of the worst foods to eat before bed.
• Curry.
• Ice cream.
• Crisps.
• Cherries.
• Raw honey.
• Bananas.

If you must stay up all night, the following tips can help you do it safely.

1. Practice. The easiest way to stay up all night is to reset your internal clock.
2. Caffeinate.
3. But avoid energy drinks.
4. Take a nap.
5. Get up and move.
6. Find some bright lights.
7. Use your devices.
8. Take a shower.

Bananas are rich in sleep-promoting nutrients like magnesium, tryptophan, vitamin B6, carbs, and potassium, all of which have been linked to improved sleep.

Best Drinks Before Bedtime

• Hot Cocoa or Chocolate. A classic pre-bedtime beverage but hot cocoa isn’t to be confused with hot chocolate.
• Warm milk. It’s an age old remedy but calcium is known to aid restful sleep which is why many sleep experts recommend a nice warm mug of milk before bed!
• Herbal tea.
• Coffee/Tea.
• Nightcap.
• Cherry juice.

In addition to raspberries, many fruits also contain melatonin, including tart cherries, bananas, pineapples, and oranges. The antioxidants in fruits such as berries, prunes, raisins, and plums may also energize you after a sleepless night.

“When [oranges are] eaten in excess, the greater fiber content can affect digestion, causing abdominal cramps, and could also lead to diarrhea.” Though oranges are relatively low in calories, eating several per day can end up leading to weight gain.

There is no real limit to how many oranges you can eat daily. Eating to many oranges everyday as well as eating regular meals could easily lead to weight gain. Acid Reflux – Although oranges won’t increase the amount of acid in your stomach the high acid content can cause pain from heartburn to become more intense.

While oranges are rich in vitamins, minerals, fibre and other antioxidants that can help reduce weight, you’ll want to eat them in moderation due to their high sugar content, although there’s no evidence to support that oranges can lead to weight gain.

One to two bananas per day is considered a moderate intake for most healthy people. Be sure to eat this fruit as part of a balanced diet that provides all the nutrients your body needs.

May contribute to weight gain While both ingredients are fine in moderation, enjoying multiple servings of bananas and milk each day can cause your calorie intake to start stacking up quickly. Without making other adjustments to your diet, this may contribute to increased weight gain over time ( 9 ).