Is it bad to eat right before going to bed?

1. 68

   StandingJaguarposted 11 years ago

   Is it bad to eat right before going to bed?
   
   Sometimes by the time I go to bed, dinner was hours ago and I'm ready for a snack! Is it bad to eat right before going to bed? For how long? Why?

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2. 69

   Sarah Christinaposted 11 years ago

   Yes, it is bad for you. Ideally, you should give yourself at least a couple hours before going to sleep after eating (depending on what you ate and how much; some things are a lot easier to digest than others). I've heard that you shouldn't eat past 7 pm, but then that is based on people that go to bed by 11 pm, so I think it depends on what your schedule is.
   
   The reason is that if you don't give yourself enough time to digest/burn off what you ate, it sits in your body all night, takes longer to digest, and adds fat to your body. You do burn calories when you sleep, but its a lot less than when you are awake. However, having a small snack shouldn't do too much damage, try to keep it light if it's right before bedtime.

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3. 66

   miss1maginationposted 11 years ago

   I think it's also bad for you depending what you eat, such as don't consume caffeine or sugar late at night. Eating late can also give you weight gain.

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4. 81

   Attikosposted 11 years ago

   There's nothing wrong with having light refreshment on retiring as long as it's something easily digested. You don't want a dinner in your stomach when you go to bed, though. Not only will it run to fat, you'll toss and turn all night. If on occasion you have no choice but to eat late, as sometimes happens with me, go easy on the plate, and at least take a twenty-minute walk afterward to shake it all down into your innards.

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5. 59

   Goody5posted 11 years ago

   The old wives tale says that eating before you go to be will give you nightmares.

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6. 76

   alphagirlposted 11 years ago

   yes, your digestion is slower and your body is ready for sleep. Actually the last meal should be eaten if big, is 6-7pm. Your body starts winding down. Also your body doesn't digest well laying down.
   
   Why must you eat before you sleep?

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   1. 68

      StandingJaguarposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I don't have to, I was just wondering. Sometimes it happens that dinner was at 5:30 but I don't go to bed until 11 or 12....  you start getting hungry even though you know you are supposed to go to bed soon.

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   2. 81

      Attikosposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      A pastime of mine being hiking, I can give one answer to that question. When camping out in cold weather, eating something just before crawling into your sleeping bag, particularly protein to provide a long, slow release of fuel, keeps you warmer.

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7. 75

   loveofnightposted 11 years ago

   I myself eat whenever I feel hungry, regardless of the time. I know that it is not recommended but if hunger hits that's it. A fruit salad is not only light but easy to digest, which is probably the direction that I would go in.

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8. 72

   lburmasterposted 11 years ago

   Bad. You gain more weight that way. Your not supposed to eat after 8 at night.

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9. 61

   Diane Woodsonposted 11 years ago

   No it depends upon what you eat. If you eat some healthy cereal, even oatmeal it keeps your blood sugar level normal during the night.

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