Eating before you sleep

Have you ever heard people say that you should or shouldnt eat before bed? Someone saying that eating that piece of fruit or that bit of cheese will give you bad dreams? Or perhaps that eating before bed will make you fat? Well i have so i thought id share my thoughts on the topic.

As far as i am aware there is no conclusive evidence that eating before you go to sleep can make you fatter. The way you will get fatter is by eating more calories than your body needs in a day, so if that chocolate bar you eat before bed takes you over your daily amount then yes you will gain weight.

Healthy eating guidlines suggest that you should eat small meals every two to three hours to keep you feeling full and give your body the energy its needs thoughout the day at a steady rate, without the slump in blood sugar if you leave big gaps inbetween meals.

So if you are going to eat before bed then go ahead but be aware of exactly what you are eating. Spicy, fatty foods and caffeine drinks will not help your sleep though as they can make you feel sluggish and fatigued when you wake up aswell as leading to heartburn. Fatty foods especially are a massive no no before bed because they slow down digestion and exacerbate indigestion. Alcohol should also be avoided before bed. Yes in some ways it can help you sleep but it will dehydrate you and can commonly lead to you awakenig in the night disturbing your sleep pattern.

So what food are beneficial before bed?

Here are some healthy alternatives before bedtime:

• fruits
• vegetables
• cottage cheese
• flaxseed oil
• turkey breast
• chicken breast
• skimmed milk

Generally food that is slow digesting and wont give you an energy spike whilst your trying to sleep is said to be more beneficial than food that can be absorbed quicker. Protein before bed can be beneficial because when you sleep your body is repairing damage and protein is used in repair. For me the most important thing before bed is water. Your body loses water whilst you sleep so in my view its a good idea to top up before you hit the matress, just dont have too much otherwise you will be running for the toilet before long.

I find that what works for one person may not work another, we are all different in the way we eat, times we eat and our lifestyles. So if you do eat before sleep ask yourself this, is it going to benefit my body and will it take me over what my body needs in calories? If the answer is yes then dont do it unless you want to add some unwanted weight to your frame.