Can Eating Certain Foods Let You Control Your Dreams? The Link Between Diet and Lucid Dreaming

Okay, let’s be honest for a second. You’ve probably had that one weird as hell dream—maybe you’re flying butt-naked over your old high school while your ex is throwing mangoes at you and your math teacher is suddenly a cat. Classic subconscious chaos.

Now… what if I told you that you could actually control that dream? Steer it? Walk up to dream-you and say, “Yo, we’re not doing this mango-throwing nonsense today.

Let’s ride a unicorn instead.” That’s lucid dreaming. And yeah, it’s a real thing. But here’s the spicy bit: what you eat might have something to do with how easily you can pull that off.

Yep. Your fridge could be the secret door to lucid dreamland. Wild, huh?

So, can food actually influence your dreams?

Short answer? Yes. Long answer? Hell yes—but not in a “eat this banana and you’ll become Inception’s main character overnight” kind of way. It’s more subtle than that.

The nutrients you consume, the timing of your meals, even your blood sugar levels—they all play a role in what goes down behind your eyelids at night.

You ever eat something heavy, greasy, or spicy before bed and wake up feeling like you just starred in a nightmare directed by Quentin Tarantino on crack? Same. That’s your brain reacting to chaos in your belly.

But with the right stuff? The dreamscapes can shift dramatically—and you might just become the boss of your own dream world.

Foods that have people whispering, “This shit made me lucid dream”

Let’s get into the fun stuff. These are the things that’ve been tied to dream vividness or lucidity, either through anecdotal evidence (i.e. thousands of Redditors swearing on their grandma’s grave) or small-scale scientific studies that show some very interesting patterns:

🧀 Cheese & Dairy

Don’t ask me why, but cheese has a reputation for stirring up vivid dreams. Brits have even done studies on it. Some folks say different cheeses give them different kinds of dreams. Cheddar makes you dream of celebrities.

Stilton? Buckle up. Your dream might turn into a Tim Burton film. Just don’t overdo it, or your stomach will fight you at 3am like a demon in a blender.

🍌 Bananas

Bananas have magnesium and vitamin B6—two MVPs when it comes to calming your nervous system and helping with dream recall. B6 especially has been linked to increased dream vividness.

Some folks even supplement it just to remember dreams better. Just…maybe don’t go full monkey and eat five at once. Constipation is real, y’all.

🐟 Fatty Fish

Omega-3s support healthy brain function. A happy brain = better REM cycles = more vivid dreams. Some people report clearer, more narrative-like dreams after consistently eating salmon or mackerel. Bonus: you’re also improving your mood and memory while you’re at it. Two birds. One fish.

🌿 Mugwort (yes, it’s real)

This herb’s been used since medieval times by folks who believed in “dream walking.” Today, it’s found in teas or incense. People say it enhances dreams, boosts clarity, even increases the chances of lucidity. Warning: it tastes like witch’s breath, but if you’re brave… it might just be worth the plunge.

🍫 Dark Chocolate

It has tryptophan, the amino acid linked to serotonin and melatonin production. It can help you fall asleep faster and improve sleep quality, but eat it too late or too much, and you’ll be bouncing off your sheets. So maybe one square, not the whole bar, okay?

I tried this myself. Here’s what happened.

I went full nerd mode and tested out a “lucid dream diet” for two weeks. B6-rich foods, mugwort tea before bed, no heavy meals past 8PM, and journaling dreams as soon as I woke up.

Night 3: I became aware I was dreaming while being chased by a giant pancake. I stopped, turned around, and yelled, “YOU’RE NOT REAL!” The pancake cried. I flew away. Lucid af.

Night 7: I was lucid, walking through a glowing forest. I asked the dream, “What should I do with my life?” A mushroom replied, “Eat less processed food.” I think it was being shady.

Night 11: No lucidity, but I had the most vivid, colorful dream about living in a floating village where everyone spoke in song. Woke up with goosebumps.

So, does it work? Kinda. Like anything, it’s about consistency, knowing your body, and setting the intention. Food isn’t a magic button. But it can be the gas that fuels the lucid dream machine. And damn, it’s fun to try.

Tips if you wanna give it a shot:

• Start a dream journal. Right beside your bed. Write even the weirdest nonsense. (Yes, even the dream where you made out with a mailbox. No shame.)
• Mind what you eat after 7PM. Keep it light, nutritious, not fried in the tears of regret.
• Experiment with B6-rich foods like tuna, bananas, avocados.
• Try mugwort tea (if you’re not pregnant or allergic).
• Set intentions before sleep. Literally say, “Tonight I will realize I’m dreaming.” Corny but it works.

Lucid dreaming is like learning a language your subconscious already speaks.

And food? That’s one of the dialects. If you’re curious, playful, and okay with the occasional nightmare featuring your 7th-grade teacher doing the worm, it’s absolutely worth diving into.

Just…go easy on the cheese, okay?

Would you try a lucid dream diet? What’s the weirdest dream you’ve ever had?