Caffeine 'can affect sleep up to 12 hours later'

Sleep can be disrupted up to 12 hours after caffeine has been consumed, according to one researcher.

Food and drink which contains caffeine can have a detrimental effect on sleeping patterns even 12 hours after consumption, one expert has claimed.

Speaking to the Washington Post, Michael Grandner, a researcher at the University of Pennsylvania's Center for Sleep and Respiratory Neurobiology, explained how there are a number of products people should avoid before bed.

He described how caffeine can keep individuals so alert they are effectively "unable to shut it off".

In a recent study conducted by the specialist it was found that those who ate a high portion of fat before slumber also found it harder to rest.

At the other end of the spectrum, Mr Grandner commented that the idea some foods can help people to drift off is based more on the fact they work as a placebo.

He said products such as herbal tea and milk work by "not by making you sleepy, but by making you more relaxed".

Sue Mousley, chair of the International Federation of Aromatherapists, recently remarked how using lavender oil can relax an individual and aid them in getting to sleep.