Making a regular habit of eating at midnight can be great and something you glorify and bind, but it’s not so great for your body.
It’s 9:00 pm You’ve had a healthy dinner, you know you should stop eating now, but you’re hungry and you’re craving something: sweet, salty, or carbohydrate. You end up eating junk food or excess food, which your body doesn’t need. And you don’t even feel good after this! Does this sound familiar? Don’t worry, many of us are guilty of it too. Snacking after dinner or late at night is one of the most common fitness mistakes people make. In fact, midnight snacking is one of the biggest contributors to weight gain, sleep disruption, and digestive problems.
Why are midnight snacks unhealthy?
Midnight snacks not only disrupt the sleep cycle and digestive system, but also contribute to an unhealthy lifestyle, increased blood sugar levels, high cholesterol levels, weight gain and emotional well-being. A few simple changes to eating patterns can help you cut back on midnight snacking and progress toward a more fit person. The first and most important step to a healthy diet is to end your midnight snacking habit.
1. Eat balanced meals
While skipping meals can be tempting for weight loss, it can actually cause you to overeat later in the day! You need to eat healthy, balanced meals so you don’t feel hungry at odd hours. When you eat healthy, balanced, and nutritious meals, you’re giving your body the energy and nutrition it needs on a consistent basis.
2. Dinner on time
Often, people end up snacking late at night, either because they had dinner too early or because they didn’t eat at all. Instead of falling prey to hunger at odd hours, set a time for dinner and stick to it so you don’t end up eating unhealthy foods that disrupt your digestive system, sleep cycle, and body nutrition.
3. Do not store snacks at home
When it comes to curbing midnight munchies at home, nuisance is your ally. Think about it: if you don’t have chips, a cold drink, or chocolates at home, you can’t eat them! Don’t store them at home, and you may find it difficult to go out and get some at night. You end up bingeing on nothing.
4. Drink enough water
If you’re dehydrated, chances are you’re mistaking thirst for hunger. If you feel hungry after dinner, try drinking water and waiting 20 minutes to see if that affects how hungry you feel. When you’re dehydrated, you also tend to eat more. Drinking enough water will not only keep you satiated, but it will also keep your body functioning optimally.
5. Sleep on time
A good night’s sleep is important for brain health, body health, and appetite. Go to bed early and get 7-9 hours of sleep a day, as this will not only prevent you from bingeing overnight, but will also prevent you from overeating the next day. If you go to bed early, you won’t have windows to snack on. If that means skipping an episode of the show you’re watching, so be it.
(- Contributions from Miten Kakaiya, Fitness Trainer and Founder of Miten Says Fitness)
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