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“Don’t eat after 7 p.m.!”, “Eating before bed will make you fat!” Do these quotes sound familiar? Many people have heard time and time again that eating anything before you go to sleep will lead to weight gain. The truth is that you absolutely CAN eat before you go to sleep. However, there is a catch. It doesn’t matter what time you eat, but it does matter what type of food you eat and how many calories you consume in all.
Eating before bed can actually be a good thing by supporting muscle repair while you sleep – as long as you eat the proper foods beforehand. The best thing to eat is a mixture of protein + healthy fats. Protein is the best macro to fuel your muscles and the healthy fats slow down digestion, so that it can sustain it for a longer period of time. Here are some suggestions of great foods to eat before bed:
Protein
- Egg whites
- Greek Yogurt (plain)
- Cottage Cheese
- Casein Protein
- Protein Smoothie
- Lean Meat (chicken or turkey)
Healthy Fats
- Almond/Peanut Butter
- Raw Nuts
- Flax-seeds
- Chia seeds
As well, if you’re trying to lose weight and sticking to a caloric budget, mindless late night eating may sabotage your efforts for the day and/or week! If night-time rolls around, you’ve consumed your maximum allotment of calories for the day and you’re not really HUNGRY – find something else to entertain you other than food. If you’re about to hit the hay and truly hear your tummy rumbling, just make sure your choices are wise.
Do you eat before bed? What are your go-to foods?
Sleep is very essential for the physical body to perform its function effectively. Likewise, in taking proper foods before sleep is also utmost important to live healthier. These healthy foods benefits in maintaining healthy body and mind.