Eating fruits at night instead of a high-calorie snack like chips, cookies, or ice cream can help keep your calorie intake in check. Fruits like berries, apples, pears, and grapes are low in calories and high in fiber, making them an excellent option for a late-night snack.
Cherries are known for being one of the best foods for sleep as they naturally contain melatonin. Snacking on cherries or drinking cherry juice can help promote longer, deeper sleep.
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Oranges and grapefruits might be a go-to snack, but save them for drinks and meals earlier in the day. They can be tough on the digestive system and trigger indigestion that disturbs sleep. 2. Spicy foods.
The vitamin C and melatonin in strawberries both promote healthy sleep. Plus, according to the National Sleep Foundation, the antioxidants in strawberries can help counteract the oxidative stress caused by sleep disorders.
Many fruits contain a high level of sugar, and consuming them at dinner time can increase the chance of rising blood sugar levels. Majority of the population has the problem of high blood sugar, and eating specific fruits will increase the risk.
Some research has found that eating kiwi can improve sleep. View Source . In a study, people who ate two kiwis one hour before bedtime found that they fell asleep faster, slept more, and had better sleep quality.
Turns out it is rich in magnesium, a mineral that helps the body and brain relax and regulate melatonin. It's also naturally high in tryptophan. Blueberries are beneficial because they are loaded with antioxidants that protect us from stress caused by sleep disorders and help support brain health and memory.
Berries of all kinds, such as blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries, are an excellent way to start the morning. They are low in calories, high in fiber, and contain disease-fighting antioxidants.
“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. “The act of eating late at night does not affect metabolism or lead to many of the adverse effects you may have heard of.
According to Lauren Popeck, RD, a dietitian at Orlando Health, Greek yogurt is perfect for bedtime, because it contains the sleep-inducing chemical tryptophan. And because it's such a rich source of protein, Greek yogurt can also help you avoid that same glucose spike.
There is no scientific proof that eating bananas at night can be harmful to your health.
“Grapes do have a degree of melatonin in them,” says DiMarino. “So they're a great evening snack. They don't have a lot of calories and they can potentially help you fall asleep.”
As per a few studies, eating fruits before sleeping can lead to a spike in the level of sugar, which can further lead to insomnia rather than inducing sleep and making you feel relaxed. However, in case of fasting, eating fruit is helpful as it gives the body the ample nutrients to stay fit.
How Long Before Bed Should You Stop Eating? While estimates vary, most experts recommend eating a meal two to four hours before bedtime. People who eat meals well ahead of bedtime have enough time to properly digest their food.
Although their high content of vitamin C makes them an excellent addition to any diet, citrus fruits should be avoided near bedtime.
Apples are a good source of potassium and vitamin B6 which both aid in sleep. In addition, apples are a great source of vitamin C with about 10 mg per large apple. Vitamin C helps you sleep better because it helps manage your blood sugar, lower blood pressure and even improve your breathing.
Our stomach takes a long time to digest a banana. On top of that, our body's metabolism is at its lowest in the night. Therefore, one should ideally consume bananas in the morning or the evening and must avoid eating them at night.