If you enjoy eating late at night, then you've probably heard a lot of people talking about the best practices for eating late at night or maybe you’ve heard the many reasons why you shouldn’t. But what are best practices if you decide you want to enjoy a nighttime meal?
There are many reasons why you may eat late at night. Maybe you're a night owl who stays up late watching TV or reading a book after work, or maybe you have family obligations (like coming home to help out with the kids). Whatever your reason, there is no doubt that eating late at night is a tricky thing to do. Fortunately, here's a guide to help you with late-night eating.
Is Eating Before Bed Bad For You?
Most research will state that it is best to stop eating about 2 to 3 hours before going to bed. But as stated above there may be reasons why we need to. The key here is to be smart about what we eat.
Choose a healthy snack rather than a full meal that is heavy in fat or carbohydrates. Eating too much will make you bloated and uncomfortable. Then wait at least 30 minutes before going to bed.
What Happens If You Eat Before Bed?
Eating before bed can be a great way to relieve stress and get a good night's sleep, but it can also have some serious consequences. When we eat before bed, our bodies produce more insulin than when we eat after dinner. Insulin helps move glucose into cells for energy.
However, if there's too much glucose around – from eating sweet snacks or drinking high-carb drinks – it can build up in the bloodstream, leading to low blood sugar levels causing hypoglycemia. Eating too much before bed can also lead to daytime fatigue and brain fog.
Does Eating Before Bed Affect Sleep?
Data is beginning to accumulate to suggest that eating small, nutrient-dense, low energy foods of a single type rather than large mixed-meals can have a positive effect if you are healthy. This especially true if the nighttime meal is combined with exercise.
Eating a small healthy snack should not affect your sleep.
Does Eating Before Bed Makes You Fat?
Eating before bed may sound like a great idea, but can eating before bed lead to weight gain? There has been a myth going around for years that late-night eating can lead to weight gain. However, recent studies have shown that your digestive system does not digest food differently at different times of the day.
What affects your weight is the total amount of calories you ingest and the amount of exercise that you do during the day. However, if you overeat or eat junk foods with a high amount of calories at night or any time during the day, you will likely get fat.
Is Going To Bed Hungry Bad?
Well, hunger pangs may prevent you from getting a good night’s sleep and not sleeping enough can lead to weight gain. So having a light, nutritious snack can alleviate this.
What Should I Eat Before Bed?
If you're going to eat, try eating something easy and quick – a piece of fruit or an apple with peanut butter on it might do the trick! You can eat anything as long as it's not too heavy or greasy. Make sure that you get enough protein and fat to avoid waking up in the middle of the night for more food. Also, make sure you avoid late-night snacks or meals that require long preparation.
How Long Before Bed Should I Stop Eating?
Choose a simple 150 calorie snack that is high in nutrients. This has been shown to boost metabolism in the morning.
Some healthy choices are: fruit, nuts, oatmeal, yogurt. A piece of fruit with peanut butter on it would do the trick. Don’t eat anything that is too greasy or heavy. Don’t eat sweets, spicy foods and especially anything with alcohol or caffeine.
Research on eating before bed is still emerging and somewhat controversial so if you decide to indulge keep it low calorie and healthy for the best results.
Ready to level up a healthy life? Contact Mdrive today for more useful information on best eating habits.