Insomnia has many causes, but in some cases certain types of food can steal sleep from you.

A heavy oily or high fat meal for dinner can take longer to digest. As a result, you may not sleep soundly. It's better to eat rich food for breakfast and lunch. For dinner, the meal should be light and in relatively small amounts. A light dinner can also help you keep slim. Research has found that breakfast calories are the ones that are used most efficiently.

Caffeinated drinks and foods are another cause of insomnia. For example, too much coffee can result in faster breathing, an accelerated heartbeat, higher blood pressure and a decrease in the melatonin that helps a person sleep.

Coffee or tea in the morning, or coke in the afternoon, can help refresh a person. But for those who are allergic or sensitive to caffeine, a cup of hot chocolate in the afternoon is enough to keep them awake at midnight, or to have them going to the toilet throughout the night because caffeine is also a diuretic.

There are people who use alcohol to fall asleep. For some, however, alcohol may not allow them to sleep soundly and there's always the danger of a hangover the next day. Researchers have found that alcoholics often have sleep disorders.

Some foods, such as beans, onions, eggplant, potatoes, corn, bananas and some desserts can also cause excessive gas, which disturbs sleep.

Spicy foods such as pepper, chili, garlic and ginger can also cause heartburn and prevent a sound night's sleep.

Editor: Catherine