It’s bedtime and you are feeling hungry so what should you eat? We often reach for the wrong bedtime snacks and think they are absolutely healthy, but then have trouble falling asleep without knowing the reason. Believe it or not, what you eat before going to bed can greatly affect your sleep quality. It’s difficult to go to bed when you are starving and there’s no shame in having a snack right before hitting the sack, but you should make healthy choices and avoid overeating. Your bedtime snack choice should be under 200 calories and it shouldn’t contain caffeine.
Read on to discover some of the worst foods to eat before bedtime and make sure you avoid eating these things at all costs, otherwise, you can gain undesirable body fat, disrupt your sleep and jeopardize your health .
1 . Nut butter
Almond butter, peanut butter, or any other nut butter can cause weight gain if you make it a regular bedtime snack. Although numerous studies show that peanut butter can help lose weight, there are also researches that show peanut butter can cause weight gain. If you are feeling snacky late at night, don’t reach for any nut butter, rather drink a big glass of unsweetened almond milk . Almond milk contains calcium that will help take away your cravings, calm your nerves, and help you sleep better you consume it in moderation and don’ t make it a regular bedtime snack.
2 . Alcohol
It’s a common myth that a great amount of alcohol can help you sleep better. While alcohol tends to have a drowsy and a lethargic effect , it doesn’t make your sleep more refreshing and revitalizing. Alcohol can lead to dehydration and reduce the restorative functions of sleep. You can even wake up in the middle of the night and stay awake until the early hours of the morning .
Therefore , if you want to have a deep and long -lasting sleep, avoid drinking alcohol before going to bed, otherwise, the next day the bags under your eyes will tell you that alcohol is one of the worst things to consume before sleep. If you suffer from occasional or chronic insomnia, you should be aware that alcohol can make it worse in the long run .
3 . Candy bars
As tempting as candy bars might be, they are one of the worst things to eat before hitting the sack. A recent research has found that 7 out of 10 people who consumed junk foods such as candy bars before going to sleep were more likely to suffer from nightmares that night. Candy bars are high in sugar that produces nightmarish brain waves.
4 . Ice cream
I’m sure ice cream is a favorite food of most of us. It actually comprises double- whammy properties. Ice cream is a great comforting food but one of the worst foods to consume before sleep . Even if you are trying to gain weight, don’t eat ice cream late at night. Ice creams are packed with fat that is digested at a slower rate.
5 . Chips
It may sound obvious, but you should never eat chips before going to sleep, especially if you want to drop a few unwanted pounds. Chips are one of those tasty foods that are difficult to stop eating. Stay away from chips in the evening when you are more likely to keep on and on, whether in front of the computer or television. It’s easier to lose count and overeat when you are distracted. Try snacking on some raw vegetables such as carrots, or reach for a small handful of almonds . You will get a crunchy texture of chips and the fiber will fill you up faster than chips . Studies show that chips as well as soda provide only empty calories , and they don’ t have any health benefits.
6 . Red meat
It’s not recommended to consume any meat before sleep, because it takes longer to digest. Red meat, especially processed meat , is particularly bad food to eat late at night. The thing is that red meat is packed with fats and proteins, which is not actually bad, but it keeps the body busy breaking down it the entire night , causing discomfort and sometimes cramping. Avoid a night full of twisting and turning and keep your systems at peace by eating healthy bedtime snacks. Red meat has also a higher insulin response and it can increase your risk of type 2 diabetes, so it’s better to avoid eating it in the evening. A hard-boiled egg is a great bedtime snack that you can eat instead of red meat late at night .
7. Bread
If you’re trying to gain a few pounds, you can eat bread late at night. However, if you’re on a diet and trying to lose weight, stay away from this bedtime snack. The thing is, bread contains carbs and yeasts that can cause your body to put on weight, as well as crave more carbs and eat more at night. But if you are trying to gain weight, it doesn’t mean that you should eat sandwiches the whole day and night. There are a lot of healthy ways to put on weight and eating bread isn’t a healthy way. Instead of reaching for sandwiches, consider eating a small bowl of hot oats. This is also a source of carbs, but it will not lead to weight gain like sandwiches will.
8. Chocolate
While chocolate is not loaded with a lot of fat and sugar , it does contain caffeine. It also contains stimulants such as theobromine , which is well-known to make your heart race a little. Due to this you can stay awake at night and it can also cause sleep deprivation. People who don’t get enough sleep each night tend to suffer from high levels of cortisol , which can cause muscle tissues to break down.
9. Coffee flavored food
Coffee drink, coffee flavored candies, or anything that has coffee in it are all unhealthy bedtime snacks. If you eat one of these snacks before going to sleep, you will stay awake for longer and it will be difficult to fall asleep fast. Even if you fall asleep, you might wake up in the middle of the night due to the caffeine fluctuations in the body. Some of you may say that coffee don’t keep you awake at night and you don’t have trouble sleeping
after drinking a cup of coffee right before bed. But , how do you feel in the morning? Sleepy , tired and lack of energy? Perhaps you think it’s not because of coffee flavored food , but it’s actually because of it unless you are sick. Avoid any coffee flavored food at bedtime for a great night sleep and better health .
10. Pasta
Eating pasta , even with nothing else on it right before bedtime , is never a good idea. Yes, it’s a quick and easy fix for people who want to combat their craving before hitting the sack, but it’s actually not a healthy bedtime snack. Pasta is packed with carbohydrates and has lots of calories, which are prone to settling around your waist. Eating pasta before bed will also spike your insulin levels, as well as blunt nighttime HGH ( Human Growth Hormone) production. This is not good since around 80% of this fat-burning and muscle-building hormone is released during sleep. Avoid it by saving the carbohydrate-rich food like pasta to eat earlier in the day.
-en.amerikanki.com