Australian researchers say spicy food can help you sleep

• It will come as a surprise to anybody who's been troubled by a sleepless night after eating a curry.
• But a study has found that spicy food can help you sleep better - and also leave you feeling more awake the next day.
• Researchers in Australia discovered that a group of volunteers fell asleep more easily when they ate food rich in chillies.
• "They also said they woke better and seemed to have a bit more energy during the day," said lead researcher Andrew Davies, of the University of Tasmania.
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• Over eight weeks, the 25 volunteers first ate a bland diet and then food spiced with 30g of freshly chopped chillies each day, the New Scientist reported.
• Although at first they found the spicy food - the equivalent of two mild curries a day - disturbed their sleep, they quickly adjusted.
• They needed 20 minutes less sleep a night and also had more energy during the day, moving around up to 30 per cent more.
• It is thought the effects are due to capsaicin, the chemical responsible for peppers' spiciness.
• It acts on sensors in our brain which control our sleep cycles.
• Co-researcher Dominic Geraghty said chilli also cuts the risk of heart disease.
• "We're not talking about a vindaloo every day," he added.
• "Small amounts of chilli may just have small effects on a variety of cardiovascular risk factors."