(Gif via ABC / Via Emily Orley / BuzzFeed)

According to a new study by University of Missouri School of Medicine, U.S., your night cap might be doing your sleep patterns more harm than good. The study, which observed alcohol’s effects on sleep over a period of five years, concluded that drinking before bedtime can actually disrupt sleep patterns and an even cause insomnia.

The Daily Mail reports,

Dr Mahesh Thakkar, who led the research, said: ‘The prevailing thought was that alcohol promotes sleep by changing a person’s circadian rhythm – the body’s built-in 24-hour clock.

‘However, we discovered that alcohol actually promotes sleep by affecting a person’s sleep homeostasis – the brain’s built-in mechanism that regulates your sleepiness and wakefulness.’

Instead, Thakkar recommends foods rich in protein, vitamin B6, and potassium, all of which help the body produce the sleep hormone melatonin. Rather than reaching for that glass of red, eat a banana, or some walnuts or pistachio nuts. Eating tuna, halibut, salmon, and lettuce with dinner also help regulate sleep patterns.