HEALTH

Eat Right

The real effects of late night munching

Sometimes, dinner just isn’t enough-–we get it. But did you know that having a snack right before bed could be doing more harm than good? It turns out that while grabbing something to munch on before hitting the sack won't necessarily make you gain weight, there are a few other things you should keep in mind before scarfing down that slice of deep dish pizza right before catching some zzz’s. Here's what we found out.

According to recent studies, eating a greasy, rich, or big meal too close to bedtime can cause heartburn and indigestion. As a result, these tummy troubles can actually make you more restless when you sleep, which means you’ll be extra tired in the AM (no bueno). This is because when you snooze, your metabolism enters a resting state, which slows down your digestion.

Not only can eating right before sleeping cause stomach issues, but it can also make you less hungry for breakfast in the morning. Breakfast is super important, and skipping can have major effects on your energy, hunger and concentration levels throughout the day-–yikes!

So you wanna kick the habit for good? If you often find yourself hungry before you hit the sheets, start squeezing in a snack between lunch and dinner. Greek yogurt with granola, veggies with hummus, or even an apple with almond butter are all delicious and nutritious choices that won't put you in the danger zone. If all else fails and you still can’t beat the late night hunger, grab a handful of healthy nuts or frozen grapes and gulp a big glass of water instead of downing that leftover Chinese. You’ll thank yourself in the morning (promise)!

Tip: Wait at least an hour after eating before crawling into bed.

Do you do any late night snacking before bed? Share in the comments below.

POSTED IN health, nutrition, healthy you program