Does Eating Before Bed Make You Fat?

Does Eating Right Before Bed Make You Fat?

Good question but it’s really more about what you eat than when.

It may seem that eating right before bed makes you fat…if you’re in the habit of polishing off a bag of chips or pint of ice cream while binge watching Netflix until 10pm.

Conventional wisdom says that eating before bed causes weight gain because your metabolism slows down when you fall asleep.

What do Health Experts Say?

However, health experts say that eating before bed is perfectly fine and may even improve sleep or weight loss. Since your basal metabolic rate while sleeping is pretty much the same as it is during the day there’s no evidence supporting the idea that calories count more while you’re snoozing.

If you’re going to eat before bed what should you eat? Several studies suggest a combo of complex carbs and proteins are probably your best bet. [1] Whole grains, fruits / veggies would be a good choice.

Here are a few snack ideas:

sliced green apples with almond butter
whole grain crackers w/ sliced turkey
or grapes

Caution…if you have GERD or Acid Reflux you probably don’t want to eat anything just before bed. Consult your doctor for personalized, medical advice.

If you’re an athlete or someone who’s very active a protein shake before bed can be a great choice.The nutrients in the shake fuel the body and take full advantage of your best opportunity for recovery.

Some foods may actually help you sleep (like Turkey) where others might not and since we’re all a bit different you may need to do a little trial and error.

So the answer to the question is….(it depends…on what you eat before bed. )
Skip the chips and sugary snacks and choose fruits and veggies, whole grains and proteins instead.

Personally, whenever possible I try not to East just before bed… what about you?

If you enjoyed this video…I would love to hear your feedback in the
comments section below. You can also share this video with anyone you
think would benefit.

References

[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24320159

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