The 5 Types Of Food You Need To Avoid At Night

We all can agree that when we finally lay our heads on the pillow we’d like to actually go to sleep. Nothing is more annoying than insomnia, and the evidence is piling up that sleep is essential for good health.

But what if you get hungry all of a sudden? There’s no need to deny yourself a late-night snack if you’re feeling hungry, but you still have to think smart when it comes to eating late.

Eating the wrong foods will disrupt your sleep while also adding a lot of unneeded calories to your day. Instead of just diving into the nearest, tastiest-looking item in your fridge, here are five types of foods to avoid at night.

Greasy foods  – Greasy, heavy, fatty foods make you feel sluggish the next morning. They also make your stomach work overdrive to digest all that food. Stay away from things like fast food, nuts, ice cream, or super cheesy foods before you sleep.

Sugary and high carb foods –  A little bit of something sweet before bed may give you a happy rest, but if you devour a huge slice of chocolate cake, the spike in your blood-sugar levels could cause your energy levels to spike and plummet, disrupting your sleep in the process. Avoid cake, cookies, or other desserts as well as high-carb snacks like crackers or white bread. Munch on that apple instead.

Red meat and other proteins – Like fatty foods, eating red meats late at night will sit in your stomach and make it hard for you to fall asleep while you’re digesting (red meat may affect you the worst, but eating a large portion of chicken or pork would have the same effect as well). You don’t have to avoid protein altogether, just make sure you go for lean and small portions, like deli-sliced turkey breast or a cup of yoghurt.

Spicy foods – Step away from the hot sauce before you sleep. Spicy, peppery foods may upset your stomach, and the chemicals in spicy food can also stimulate your senses, making it hard to fall asleep.

Big portions – Late-night snacking shouldn’t turn into a late-night meal! Keep the total amount of calories under 200 so you won’t have any problems going and staying asleep. You’ll also feel good knowing that you didn’t undo all your healthy eating habits of the day right before bedtime.

Sourced from PopSugar Fitness