Eating a meal directly before bed can come with consequences.
So, is it bad to eat before bed?
Eating before bed can make it harder to fall asleep, and it can also triggernighttime heartburn.
Verywell / Brianna Gilmartin
This article will go over what you should know about sleeping after eating.
Should You Eat Before Going to Bed?
Eating a large meal before bedtime may do more harm than good.
What Are the Risks of Eating Before Bed?
Eating before bed can lead to a few health problems, especially when it becomes a habit.
Some people may be more prone to the negative health effects oflate-night eatingthan others.
This weakness makes it easier for stomach acid to creep back up into the esophagus.
At night, the symptom is more likely to occur if the stomach has not fully emptied by bedtime.
Eating also prompts the release of insulin, a hormone that helps your body use food for energy.
One study published in theJournal of Clinical Sleep Medicinefound a strong link between eating late and poor quality sleep.
It likely relates to many factors, including metabolism and insulin.
There is also some evidence that chronic poor sleep is linked to weight gain in the long run.
Should You Go to Bed Hungry?
Going to bed hungry can interrupt your sleep.
What Are the Benefits of Eating Before Bed?
May Stabilize Blood Sugar
Everyone’s blood sugar levels fluctuate throughout the day.
These early morning fluctuations are known as thedawn phenomenon.
There is some evidence that eating a snack before bed can help keep blood sugar levels stable overnight.
What you eat still matters, though.
Should You Drink Water Before Bed?
However, if you’re dehydrated, that can also negatively affect your sleep.
Are There Foods That Help You Sleep?
Some foods have substances in them that may enhance your sleep.
For example, turkey, pork chops, and whole milk contain a substance calledtryptophan.
Melatonin can be found in many plant foods as well.
Can I Have a Bedtime Snack?
Having a light snack before bedtime might have some benefits.
Alcohol, chocolate, and peppermint can also worsen heartburn and reflux.
Will Alcohol Help Me Sleep?
While having an alcoholic beverage can make you feel sleepy at first, the effect wears off quickly.
Ultimately, alcohol can actually cause fragmented and disrupted sleep.
Caffeineblocks a chemical that makes you feel sleepy (adenosine).
Getting up to use the bathroom can interrupt your sleep.
Not everyone issensitive to caffeineand people metabolize it at different rates.
Summary
Give yourself about three hours between when you eat your last meal and bedtime.
Having a small evening snack that is low in carbohydrates and calories is usually fine.
Also, avoid alcohol, which can disrupt your sleep and worsen conditions like sleep apnea.
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