“If you are hungry, you should eat something, regardless of the time of day,” says Aimee Takamura, registered dietitian and director of wellness and sustainability at Restaurant Associates.
If you really are experiencing late-night hunger pains, reach for a low-cal, whole-grain snack like whole-wheat toast, high-fiber cereal, or popcorn. "Whole-grain carbs help release serotonin in the brain, which make you feel calm and ready for sleep," Moskovitz says.
What Experts Say About Late-Night Snacking. "If you're hungry at night, you should eat something," says Sarah Pflugradt, M.S., RD, a family nutrition expert.
No conclusive evidence suggests eating at night is automatically harmful to your health — but eating certain foods before bed may disrupt your sleep. In general, experts recommend eating your last meal or snack at least two to three hours before bed to give your body time to digest.
It's best to stop eating about three hours before going to bed. That allows plenty of time for your body to digest the last food you ate so it won't disrupt your sleep, but leaves a small enough window before sleep that you won't go to bed feeling hungry.
Calories consumed at night won't change your metabolism or count more than calories consumed during the day. Weight gain and weight loss comes down to a simple math equation, explains Day. “Too many calories taken in versus not enough expended on any given day, regardless of the time, will lead to weight gain.”
As a general rule: finish up dinner two to three hours before bed. This will keep your body clocks in sync and also mean late-night meals won't disturb your sleep — which can also lead to weight gain. The RISE app can tell you when to have your last meal based on your circadian rhythm each day.
Feeling a little bit hungry before bed can be a good thing, as you don't want to feel overly full before bed. However, you don't want so hungry that you can't relax and fall asleep. So if you're struggling to sleep and find your stomach feels empty, a light snack may help you fall asleep.
"When it comes to weight loss, going to bed a little bit hungry can help because it keeps hormones like insulin low, and that can help facilitate weight loss," Davis says. But she reiterates that having a big dinner right before bed has the opposite effect.
Going to bed on an empty stomach can leave your stomach empty or wanting to be filled. However, going to bed hungry is considered healthier than eating too close to bedtime. Eating right before bedtime or having a late dinner can lead to increased body mass index (BMI), indigestion or insomnia.
"Most often, feeling hungry at night is caused by a late bedtime or an underlying sleep issue," Brilling said. "We recommend seven to eight hours of sleep at night. Many adults suffer from some kind of sleep disturbance, such as insomnia or sleep apnea. Night waking is often 'treated' with food."
How can you lose belly fat? The most effective and easy way to lose weight around your abdominal area is by gradually controlling your food portion and not by drastically stopping consumption of food altogether. You need to count your calorie intake and feed your stomach with nutrient filled foods.
There's no be-all and end-all on what time you should close the kitchen. Some researchers define "eating late" as eating your last meal less than two hours before bedtime, while other research suggests cutting yourself off by 6 p.m. delivers the greatest health benefits.
Going to bed hungry doesn't just mean less sleep — it may also be bad news for those trying to build muscle. If deprived of nutrients for long enough, your body can start to break down muscle for energy (also called a catabolic state).
Share on Pinterest Undereating can lead to a person becoming fatigued. One of the most obvious and widespread symptoms that might indicate that a person may be undereating is constantly feeling tired. A body gets its energy from the calories in the food and drinks a person consumes.
Hunger is a physiological need to consume food and provide the body with fuel. If you can't sleep at night because you have stomach pains, feel alert, and can't stop thinking about food - your body might need more fuel. Daytime actions can contribute to night hunger if: You skipped meals or snacks during the day.
Study participants who tried eating one meal a day ended up with less total body fat. This particular group of people didn't experience significant weight loss. That said, intermittent fasting in general has proven to be an effective weight-loss method. The typical weight loss is 7 to 11 pounds over 10 weeks.
Studies show that for optimal health, it's best to consume most of your calories earlier in the day rather than later — for example by eating a large breakfast, a modest lunch, and a small dinner.