Studies have shown that the later you eat, the more weight you tend to gain. Most foods eaten after 9 p.m. go through a much longer digestion process and may be stored in fat cells, as your body is already in relaxation mode and preparing to eat. go to bed.
There are people who like to snack at night, and weight gain is a problem that they often have to face. The fact is, late-night snacking is not a very healthy habit. Eating and going straight to bed or going back to bed doesn’t give your body a lot of time for digestion. Calories from food always have to be burned or consumed in some way. Unless you ran a marathon that day, chances are your late-night snack will end up on your thighs, stomach, and other problem areas.
However, there are some healthy low-calorie alternatives for your late-night snacks. It’s the same as making a healthier choice during a snack later in the day, and may even give you a chance to eat and fill up on a few servings of food you missed that day. When you do snack at night, stay away from the grain and protein group unless you’re absolutely starving. These two groups take longer to break down and metabolize, so there is a higher chance that it will turn into fat or unused energy. Also don’t go for cookies, cakes, chocolate or pastries. These sugary foods are high in calories and are likely to keep you awake with their sugar content, disrupting your sleep schedule.
Choose the vegetable, fruit, and dairy groups. Have some cheese, vegetable sticks, fresh fruit, or yogurt. Try to think of everything you’ve eaten that day and look for what you’re missing in terms of recommended servings. If you’re not missing anything, stick with fruit, as it’s always a good safe and healthy option.
You can also try having a smoothie or shake. Tomato juice, banana smoothies, mango smoothies, and other fruit concoctions can be great snacks that are easy to digest and healthy. Nuts are also a good snack and are probably the exception of the protein group. Just make sure they are salt-free and have less fat. You probably don’t need the extra salt or fat on your body this late at night.
Before you eat anything at night, drink a glass of water and wait a few minutes. Sometimes our bodies just get confused and send signals for food when really we’re just thirsty. Make sure to quench your thirst even before you head out to make yourself a snack. If you’ve had a good dinner, chances are you’re not hungry. So drink a glass of water and see how you feel. If you’re still hungry, look in your fridge for healthy, low-calorie options.