QUESTION: Is it true drinking wine before bedtime is like giving red cordial to a child? I swear, whenever I’ve been drinking wine lately I’ve had the worst night’s sleep. The girls at the gym swear blindly it’s the sugar in the wine that makes me unable to go back to sleep when I wake up at 3 a.m. I thought the only thing I should be avoiding is coffee! Are there any other foods or drinks that are a definite no-no before sleep? – Marise, 38, Subiaco WA.

ANSWER: Dear Marise, thank you for a fabulous question. You’ve painted the picture perfectly: a glass or two of wine with friends followed by a night of broken sleep and a bleary-eyed gym session the next morning. It is one of the most common mysteries I hear: why does wine knock you out at first, then wake you up at 3 a.m.? 3

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