7 potential worst foods to avoid before bedtime
7 potential worst foods to avoid before bedtime
Have you ever had one of those dreams where you cannot explain what happened from beginning to end when you wake up? Do you believe that you were not suppose to eat that 2nd slice of cake after 9pm? Have you ever blamed nightmares on a full stomach?
If you can answer the above questions truthfully than you are guilty of not following your own diet goals. Oftentimes many of us will create excuses to have one last snack or one last meal before going to bed. We do this for many reasons. The reasons, at times realistic, are not ways to certify our hunger. Are these reasons meant to make us feel better?
Regardless of what the excuses are, you need to focus on staying fit and healthy. Eating certain foods after 9 p.m. and going to bed right after is never a good idea.
In the Caribbean, eating large meals four times a day is not uncommon. These meals are served for breakfast, lunch, dinner and supper. Supper usually includes a porridge, bread, fruit juice or oats (grains). Supper is usually served at 6 pm which is the time other people in other countries would eat dinner.
If you figure out how long it takes you to digest, you may want to rethink about eating that last slice of cake tonight. WebMD describes digestion as follow: The mouth is the beginning of the digestive tract. In fact, digestion starts here as soon as you take the first bite of a meal. Chewing breaks the food into pieces that are more easily digested, while saliva mixes with food to begin the process of breaking it down into a form your body can absorb and use. (webmd.com)
It is okay to have a late-night snack before bed as long as you choose foods that will promote fat loss. Fat is a crucial nutrient for normal body function. It supplies us with energy and also affect the jobs of other nutrients.
Fat is present in many form. Knowing the type of fat your foods has will help you at figuring what you need to eat and not eat late. Consuming the types of fat that will hurt your body will have a negative effect on your eight-hour sleep.
Fat is not the only thing you need to avoid. You also need to avoid foods that will slow digestion, cause heartburn and make you gassy. These foods can range from vegetables to even milk.
Here are the 7 potential worst foods to avoid before bedtime are:
Coffee: a good way to start your day that is if you like coffee is with a nice, aromatic cup of coffee. It is best to drink coffee in the morning than at night because it is a stimulant that provokes neurological movements and will most likely keep you awake at night – no sleep. It is recommended to consume your last cup 6 hours before bedtime.
Caffeinated drinks will mostly have similar effects. Avoid drinking caffeinated soda or soft drinks containing caffeine before bedtime. Did you know that caffeine consumption increases the urinary excretion of calcium.
Spicy foods: eating a spicy meal and lying down after can disrupt a good night sleep. Heartburns, gas and bloating are just a few symptoms you can expect. Although many spices can reduce inflammation and treat gastric infections, spicy foods can irritate some urinary tract infections. A study published inThe International Journal of Psychology says, foods that are spicy or peppery can result in an upset stomach and the chemicals can thus activate your senses and keep you up at night. If you love spicy foods, it is recommended to consume at moderation and several hours before bedtime.<
Oats: Oats are a grain. They are a cereal plant cultivated largely in cool climates. And considered at a whole food because of the way it is processed. Oats needs time to digest. If it does not have sufficient time to properly digest it can cause heartburn and gas.
Vegetables: The National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse(NDDIC) states that broccoli, cabbage, beans, cucumbers and garlic are hard to digest and can result in gas. Vegetables are rich with the vitamins and minerals needed to heal the body. But when certain vegetables are consumed raw they cause digestive distress like gas, bloating and abdominal pain.
Fried foods: they are everywhere and are very appetizing and yet very dangerous for our body. Eating an entire serving of fried foods will mostly likely push your digestive system into overdrive. Your body will have to work harder to get rid of greasy foods. When your digestive system is on overdrive, the greasy food moves undigested through the body which will result in diarrhea, bloating and a feeling full.
Sugary foods: remember that last piece of cake you had before bedtime or when you are carving a midnight snack? This is what it does to you: sweets and other deserts can raise blood-sugar level. When your sugar levels are high it causes irregular sleeping patterns.
Proteins and red meat take a long time to digest. Going to bed right away does not help because it will just sit in your stomach making you feel very uncomfortable. It takes the body one to three days to completely digest red meat. Eating a lot of red meat does not help either.
In conclusion, understand and learning more about your body is the key to a proper diet. Remember that the digestive process starts in your mouth when you are chewing your food and it takes six to eight hours for the food to pass through the stomach and the small intestine. The journey continues in the large intestine where a majority of the digestion process takes place. The final stage of digestion is your body getting rid of any unwanted matter through the anus.
A proper digestive health start with a healthy lifestyle. Eating a high-fiber diet, consuming lean meat, eating on schedule, drinking plenty of healthy fluid, exercising regularly and learning how to manage stress better are just a few ways to a healthy lifestyle.
Reference:
http://www.mcvitamins.com/Health%20Opponents/soda.htm
http://www.webmd.com/heartburn-gerd/your-digestive-system
http://www.healthline.com/health/food-nutrition/spicy-food-digestion#2
Photo Credits:
Caribbeangreenliving.com
Depositphotos.com
Canva.com
