Effects of Eating late night

 The Effects of Eating Late at Night

Most people eat late at night on occasion. In most cases, eating during the late-night hours is harmful and less helpful. Excessive food quantities and eating particular foods, however, can cause problems. Consuming most of your calories during the day, in the form of balanced meals or snacks, promotes positive energy levels, appetite control and overall wellness. When you do resort to late-night eating, choose nutritious foods, such as whole grains, fruits or vegetables. With increases in obesity on the rise, we are beginning to hear more and more about the importance of avoiding eating late at night. Eating late at night is often blamed for obesity, though it can also contribute to fluctuations in your sleep cycle and changes in the number of times you need to use the bathroom during the night. If you must eat late, choose foods that are appropriate, such as those low in calories and rich in whole grains. Here are four reasons to avoid eating late.

1. Weight Gain

One of the most important reasons why you should avoid eating late at night is due to the possible risk of weight gain associated with this habit. While many people are aware of the fact that eating late may contribute to weight gain, they are not always aware of how this can happen. Increases in your body weight during this period of time are caused primarily by changes in the rate at which your metabolism functions during sleeping versus waking hours. When you eat during the day, you are relatively active, and your metabolism is functioning rapidly. In contrast, during sleep, your metabolism has slowed quite a bit—and because of this, the food that you have recently eaten will be metabolized and digested at a much slower rate. This contributes to increases in body weight, and possible obesity. People who are trying to lose weight should avoid eating at least two hours before they go to bed. If you must have something to snack on in the evening, consider choosing fruits, vegetables or other products which are low in fat and calories.

2. Fluctuations in Sleep Cycle

Another important reason why you may want to avoid eating late is due to the effect it can have on your sleep cycle. Research has found that the digestive process can have serious implications on your sleep cycle, causing you to wake up more often, and have a harder time falling asleep in the first place. One of the worst foods that you can eat if you have a hard time falling asleep at night are sugary foods such as cookies and other baked goods. In contrast, chamomile tea or warm milk may actually help you fall asleep at night.

3. Increased Urination and Excretion Needs

One last reason why you may want to avoid eating late at night is that doing so may increase the number of times that you need to get up to use the restroom during the night. Eating late at night will result in food being digested during your sleeping hours—and because of this, you may need to wake up to eliminate the waste products. If you are really hungry late at night, consider eating foods with high amounts of fiber, such as whole grains. These products take a long time to digest, and won't need to be excreted for at least eight hours.

4. Heartburn and Acid Reflux

Acid reflux is a common condition in which stomach acid moves back up into your esophagus after eating. It often accompanies heartburn, or a burning or tight pain in your lower or mid-chest. Though occasional, mild acid reflux and heartburn symptoms are rarely cause for alarm, recurrent symptoms can indicate the chronic digestive disorder, GERD—gastroesophageal reflux disease. Lying down after eating can trigger acid reflux and other GERD symptoms, according to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse. Overeating or eating high-fat, greasy or acidic foods, such as tomato products, at night heighten these risks. For these reasons, you may benefit from avoiding late-night eating if you are prone to acid reflux or heartburn.