If you often find yourself grabbing a snack or meal late at night, you might want to keep reading. We’re diving into why this could be a bad habit for your health. So, make yourself comfortable and take in this friendly advice.
How much late is actually late?
Late is usually considered to be within 3 hours of going to sleep. For instance, if you tend to go to bed around midnight and wake up at 8am, eating anytime between 9pm and 12am would be late for you. The body metabolizes whatever you eat, and if you’re not active enough to burn off that energy, it will be stored as fat, potentially leading to health issues.
Recent medical studies have shown that eating between 12pm and 11pm results in higher levels of blood glucose, insulin, and cholesterol compared to eating between 8am and 7pm. If reducing body fat or cholesterol is your goal, it might be a good idea to curb those late-night eating habits.
What are the effects of eating late?
1. It might lead to weight gain
If you’re trying to avoid gaining weight, eating late at night isn’t the best idea. Chances are, you’ll put on more weight than you expected.
2. Acid reflux
Another downside to late-night snacking is acid reflux. When you eat late, your body might struggle to digest the food properly, which can lead to chest pain and discomfort. Eating too close to bedtime can result in insomnia or a restless night.
3. Eating late at night is associated with a rise in blood sugar
Studies have shown that eating late at night can significantly impact your blood sugar levels. For those with diabetes, this is especially concerning as it can cause harmful spikes in blood sugar. Even if you don’t have diabetes, late-night eating can still affect your blood sugar levels.
Even if you’re not hungry, eating late at night provides your body with fuel and energy to keep going, which may affect how well you sleep.
Today’s world often encourages staying up late. However, to allow your body to digest food properly, you might end up staying awake longer. This habit is detrimental to your health, impacting both the quantity and quality of your sleep.