The Best Time To Eat Dinner If You Want To Sleep Through the Night
A good meal can set you up for a good night’s rest, but MindBodyGreen had experts tell them that when you eat also affects how you sleep.
According to sleep expert Peter Polos M.D at mattress company Sleep Number, you’ll want to eat dinner at least three hours before you go to bed. “This allows adequate time for digestion, thereby reducing any possible disruption to sleep caused by poor digestion,” said Polos. This is especially important after eating foods high in protein.
For even better digestion before bed, it’s best to take an evening walk of some kind, since, from my own knowledge, I know walking benefits your body’s digestion immensely. That way, you’ll also get some exercise before bed, which might also help you sleep better.
You also don’t want to eat too early since a dip in your blood sugar levels can literally wake you up in the middle of the night.
Meanwhile, neuroscientist and sleep expert Sofia Axelrod, Ph.D. says one should at least aim to have dinner around the same time each night. “If you always eat at the same time, your body learns to prepare the digestive tract to optimally digest the food you eat,” said Axelrod.
As for a late-night snack, Polos says to try to avoid this altogether. But, if you do get hungry right before bed, get something low in sugar and high in fiber. A perfect late-night snack that won’t spike your blood sugar and wake you up is nuts or fruit.
Do you think your eating habits keep you up at night?
Source: MindBodyGreen
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