Surprising reason why you should not go to bed hungry revealed
Why you should never go to bed hungry (photo: Freepik)
Going to bed on an empty stomach may not be such a good idea. While some believe it helps with weight loss, in reality, nighttime hunger can have unpleasant health consequences, from sleep disturbances to slowing down metabolism, according to the Instagram page of renowned Ukrainian dietitian and endocrinologist Kateryna Tolstykova.
Why you shouldn’t go to bed hungry
According to the expert, if you feel hungry before bed, it could indicate that you had a very exhausting day and didn’t consume enough nutrients to support recovery during sleep.
Ignoring hunger and going to bed is not the best strategy because, for proper recovery during sleep, your body needs an adequate supply of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, and other vitamins and minerals.
Therefore, it’s important to pay attention to your diet.
"If 'hunger before bed' is a one-off event, go ahead and eat something. It’s better to have a full meal (proteins, fats, carbohydrates), but if that’s not possible, opt for complex carbohydrates and vegetables. If the hunger isn’t intense and you know you ate properly during the day, a banana or mango would be fine," added the expert.
An apple or a pear isn’t the best choice because it’s unlikely to satisfy your hunger, and you may still struggle to fall asleep.
Impact of hunger on sleep
Hunger can interfere with falling asleep or cause awakenings during the night. When the body senses a lack of energy, it may increase cortisol levels (the stress hormone), which negatively affects sleep quality.
Additionally, if the body regularly doesn’t receive nutrients before bed, it can impact metabolism, causing the body to conserve energy, which slows down fat burning.
During sleep, the body may also start using muscle tissue as an energy source if it doesn’t receive enough nutrients, especially proteins.
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This material is for informational purposes only and should not be used for medical diagnosis or self-treatment. Our goal is to provide readers with accurate information about symptoms, causes, and methods of detecting diseases. RBС-Ukraine is not responsible for any diagnoses that readers may make based on materials from the resource. We do not recommend self-treatment and advise consulting a doctor in case of any health concerns.
