One thing about the body is that when it’s hungry, it’s going to tell you it’s hungry. Whether that be at 10 am in the morning or 11 pm in the evening. And since your body is telling you that it needs food and nutrients, what do you usually do? Go and give your body the nourishment that it needs of course, but what happens when you eat too late? For example, you went out and had a five-course meal at nine o’clock at night and then got home and went right to bed? Or when it’s two in the morning and you wake up for something sweet, but that something sweet turns into half a tub of ice cream and then you simply go right back to bed because of the “itis”? What happens when this cycle continues often and you don’t even realize it? Unfortunately, late-night snacks (eating too late or right before bed) can cause some serious complications in the future. No, you can be experiencing problems as soon as you wake up.
Why Eating Late At Night Can Cause Major Health Complications
Your body has its own clock, so the window of time you should be eating is anywhere between 8-12 hours. This includes breakfast, lunch, dinner and in-between snacks.
Eating outside this window often does not give your body the time to digest foods properly and efficiently and it can disrupt your circadian rhythm.
Eating after the 8-12 hour period you should be using to nourish your body can not only lead to weight gain, but put you at a higher risk for developing diseases such as heart disease and suffering from acid reflux. This is because your body is working overtime to constantly process food and doesn’t get a long enough break to do so.
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What These Complications Can Be
Late-night eating can cause metabolic syndrome, which leads to insulin resistance, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and obesity. Once these symptoms develop, they can lead to heart problems and even heart failure. Late-night eating can also raise your blood sugar levels and this can lead to type 2 diabetes because high blood sugar levels can cause insulin resistance.
Eating outside of the “safe window” can cause acid reflux, which can lead to heartburn, indigestion, trouble with swallowing, constantly having to clear your throat, coughing, and even asthma.
Your sleeping patterns can be affected, you’ll feel hungrier the next day, even as soon as you wake up because there’s more glucose being created in your body that triggers a hormone called ghrelin, which urges hunger and this leads to weight gain.
What Time Should You Stop Eating For The Day?
The time of day you should stop eating depends on your lifestyle. If you are someone who has early mornings but are typically home during the evening, then you should stop eating at night. If you are someone who starts their days at night, then you should stop eating during the day.
The point at which you should stop eating is usually a few hours before