We have all succumbed to our late-night cravings once or twice, and really, you can’t be blamed because it feels really good to chew on popcorn or a whole chicken (if you prefer) while binging on your favorite TV show.
But the problem is right after that; you go to sleep without giving your food time to digest or your body the needed time to adjust.
Sleeping immediately after eating is bad.
You may have heard this a million times, and you’ve ignored this advice a million times over, but perhaps when you learn of the side effects, you may want to rethink your actions.
Without further ado, let’s understand the side effects of sleeping right after eating.
Source: wsj
Side Effects of Sleeping After Eating
It could be at nap time after a heavy lunch or binging late at night before bed; whatever the time might be, sleeping immediately after eating may cause one of the following side effects;
- Even small meals can be tough for your body to digest when you lay down. This will cause you discomfort or sleep interruptions. For example, it could be in the form of acid reflux.
- It could lead to heartburn and this will definitely not help you sleep comfortably.
- If you’re trying to lose weight, this will only do the reverse.
- Eating right before bed will raise your core body temperature, making it very difficult to sleep.
- There’s something called the circadian rhythm, which keeps your sleep regime on track. It responds to your body’s condition and the environment. For example, if the sun is out, it tells your body it’s time to wake up. If it’s dark, it tells your body it’s time to sleep. If your stomach is full before bed, it causes some sort of confusion. This shift in regime makes sleeping difficult and leads to stress later in the morning.
- Eating sugar-loaded foods before bed can cause a spike in your blood sugar level, and right before bed is the wrong time for that to happen.
To ensure that your food digests before bed and to avoid the associated side effects, it’s best to eat two hours before sleeping.
Eat foods or fruits rich in melatonin, like wine, grapes, bananas, kiwis and the like.
Disclaimer:
A medical professional did not write this article.
If you’d like more information on the side effects of sleeping after eating, please consult a doctor.
