We’ve all been there … you’re starting to get ready for bed and your stomach starts growling. But is it a good idea to eat that close to bedtime? There are several things to consider before you make that late-night snack because this is what happens to your body when you eat right before bed.
- You may get heartburn – If you’re susceptible to heartburn, eating a lot before bed may not be ideal because as soon as you lay down with a full stomach, you may feel that familiar burning sensation. To play it safe, try to eat at least three hours before you go to bed to prevent nighttime reflux.
- You could lose sleep – If you’re really full when you try to go to sleep, being stuffed can make it tough. And if you’ve eaten heavy or spicy foods? It can be even more challenging because both raise the risk of acid reflux and heartburn. So stick to smaller portions and stay away from the spicy stuff near bedtime.
- But you could also sleep better – On the flip side, if you haven’t eaten enough during the day, you may not sleep as well if you go to bed hungry. So eating something before sleep can help, but your food choices matter here. Ideally, your bedtime snack will be a balance of carbs and protein or fat, like a piece of toast with peanut butter and sliced bananas.
- It could help you shed a few pounds – In one study, adults who were late-night snackers started eating a bowl of cereal with milk an hour and a half before bed and after four weeks, they were eating an average of 400 calories less a day and lost about 1.85-pounds.
Source: Eat This, Not That