"Should we eat carbohydrates before bedtime?" – my friend asked me today. She wants to get rid of overweight, and she looks for a good way to do it.
Well, what about eating before bedtime?
What should we eat, when should we eat? Is it wise to eat anything
before bedtime?
My dear Readers. There are many different ideas about how to eat, what to eat, and when to eat. But there is just one simple and undeniable principle:
My dear Readers. There are many different ideas about how to eat, what to eat, and when to eat. But there is just one simple and undeniable principle:
If you eat less than
you need – you lose weight. If you eat more – you get fat.
Neither morning nor evening, there is no way to have extra chocolate.
(I wish it were possible...)
It is so important,
that it would be a good moment to finish my post, but I want to tell
you just two tips more:
1) If you have been eating just before going to bed (before lying down), you are exposing yourself to the reflux, which is manifested as heartburn. The English term for heartburn contains a word "heart", but actually it is the esophagus which hurts. And it is located near the heart. Let me explain the mechanism:
The term "reflux" means that the food from the stomach backs up into the esophagus, because the gravity does not help in keeping it in the stomach. If the food is mixed with the stomach acid (it usually is), it is very irritating to the wall of the esophagus and it hurts. It can be a really big pain.
If someone does not tend to reflux, the lying position is not harmful. But there are many people who cannot lie down or lean down having a full stomach.
1) If you have been eating just before going to bed (before lying down), you are exposing yourself to the reflux, which is manifested as heartburn. The English term for heartburn contains a word "heart", but actually it is the esophagus which hurts. And it is located near the heart. Let me explain the mechanism:
The term "reflux" means that the food from the stomach backs up into the esophagus, because the gravity does not help in keeping it in the stomach. If the food is mixed with the stomach acid (it usually is), it is very irritating to the wall of the esophagus and it hurts. It can be a really big pain.
If someone does not tend to reflux, the lying position is not harmful. But there are many people who cannot lie down or lean down having a full stomach.
So, when should we eat in the evening to avoid the reflux?
– Two hours before bedtime will be safe. One hour is a little bit
short, but it should be enough.
2) There are two
contradictory facts about a late supper:
- On one hand we
do not need as much energy at night, while sleeping, as during the
day, when we move. Therefore it is better not to eat before
bedtime.
- On the other hand the night means an 8 or 10
hours long break in nutrition, so it is better to to eat before
bedtime . I am hungry after so many hours, if I hadn't eaten anything
before I went to sleep. It is such a strong feeling that I can wake
up from hunger. Intermittent sleep certainly is not healthy.
Therefore it is better to eat beforehand.
Conclusion:
So... To eat or not to eat? Choose whatever suits you more.
Remeber: neither a day, nor a night, nor even eating meal while standing on your head – nothing allows you to eat more chocolate. Sorry. I wish I could eat more too, I like chocolate very much.
Author: Liliana Trzpil, Interesting Medicine blog.
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