- A sleep company is looking for people to eat cheese for money.
- The effort is part of a study on how different types of cheeses affect sleep quality.
If getting paid to eat cheese every night — like "30 Rock" character Liz Lemon — sounds like a dream come true, you might be the perfect candidate for a study on how cheese affects sleep.
Sleep Junkie, a research company affiliated with mattress retailer, Amerisleep, LLC, is looking for participants for a study on whether or not the old myth that cheese causes nightmares holds up.
"If chosen, our sleep experts will provide a list of cheeses that should be eaten each week, from a variety of cheese types, such as blue, hard, soft-ripened and processed," a job application for the trial reads. "The trial will also include vegan and lactose-free cheese within the selection."
After eating the various cheeses and falling asleep, participants will have to write an evaluation of their dreams, nightmares, and overall sleep quality when they wake up.
The study will last 3 months, starting in March, and in addition to all the free cheese that you receive, you will also be compensated $1000 at the end of it.
According to the job application, participants — referred to as "dairy dreamers" — must be at least 21, sleep alone, keep a consistent sleep schedule and own a smartwatch or fitness tracker.
Participants also cannot have any sleep issues, such as insomnia, or suffer from lactose intolerance.
Multiple studies before have shown that dairy products like cheese, despite rumors saying otherwise, can actually help people sleep.
A 2020 systematic review of research relating to dairy and sleep found multiple studies that found that dairy products rich in Tryptophan could help people sleep longer, among other benefits.
Studies also show that a combination of milk and cheese, along with exercise, before bed could help older adults fall asleep.