Cuatro beneficios de comer por la noche

Should you eat before bed?

This is a highly controversial topic, especially because many people are afraid to eat before going to bed, feeling that any food they consume will be directly stored as body fat as soon as the sun sets.

However, several investigations and studies show quite the opposite; eating at night can actually be beneficial. Here are the benefits of eating at night.

Benefits of eating at night

1. It can control your blood sugar the next day.

Several studies(1) found that what you consume for dinner can affect your body at breakfast the next day. Findings showed that people who ate a dinner with low glycemic index carbohydrates (legumes, vegetables, sweet potato) were able to control and regulate their blood sugar in the morning. And regulating blood glucose is important to prevent the accumulation of body fat and for overall health.

2. Controls hunger and anxiety.

According to a study published in the journal Nutrition, Metabolism and Cardiovascular Diseases, participants who ate most of their carbohydrates at dinner experienced hormonal changes that reduced hunger.

Another study (2) observed that people who consumed cow's milk 90 minutes after dinner reduced their total caloric intake by 397 calories.

3. Allows you to sleep better.

While you are sleeping, your body continues to work. In fact, during REM sleep phases, your energy metabolism increases, and therefore, it needs some energy it can use to avoid drops in blood sugar. In fact, a snack before bed regulates blood sugar throughout the night, so you don't wake up hungry.

Consequently, sleeping better helps prevent overeating or anxiety, which often affect you when you get too little sleep.

4. It can help you build muscle mass.

Your body doesn't stop working at night; that is, while you sleep, your muscles are constantly repairing themselves, especially if you've done intense exercise during the day. Studies have shown that consuming a slow-absorbing protein like casein(3) before going to bed helps repair, maintain, and increase muscle mass.

Does this mean I should eat before bed?

As we have seen, eating at night has its benefits, but it will always depend on each person and their habits. And it is important to remember that when we talk about eating something, we are always referring to quality foods such as vegetables, fruits, natural yogurts, protein shakes, high-fiber cereals, etc., not processed and sugary products.

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