The Miami Herald examines the impact of food on sleep and sleep cycles.

There are lots of reasons people miss out on a good night’s sleep. Some are based on serious problems, including sleep apnea, depression or anxiety, said Cleveland Clinic’s Dr. Ketan Deoras, a psychiatrist with a specialty in sleep medicine. Other reasons could be medications, stress or what you’re eating or drinking.

“In the long term, if you don’t eat a healthy diet, you can become obese and you’re at risk for sleep apnea,” a serious disorder, with breathing interrupted during sleep, Deoras said.

Researchers are looking at other ways in which our diet impacts our bedtime. A 2013 study by the University Pennsylvania suggests that a good night’s sleep and a good diet are related. There aren’t yet conclusive findings, but experts point to some connections.

“The later you’re going to eat, the lighter your meal should be,” said Cathy Clark-Reyes, a registered dietitian with Baptist Health Primary Care. “A huge steak is going to sit on your stomach for a long time, but lean fish is not going to take as long to digest or process.”