Do you also have late night cravings? Know what to eat at night and what things to stay away from

Late Night Cravings : Do you also feel like eating something late at night? We all sometimes feel late night cravings and in such situations we eat whatever is available. But late night cravings for junk or processed food like chips, snacks or noodles can be harmful to health. These foods contain high amounts of fat, sodium and sugar which can cause digestive problems, weight gain and also negatively impact sleep quality.

Therefore, it is good to choose healthy snacks for late night. According to nutritionists, options rich in nutrients like protein, fiber and magnesium are better at night. These not only provide energy to the body, but also improve sleep and prevent digestive problems.

Why do late-night cravings occur?

There can be many reasons for late night cravings. Sometimes this may be due to your mood only, sometimes hormonal changes are also a major reason. At night, there may be an imbalance of ghrelin and leptin hormones in the body, which send hunger signals. Ghrelin increases appetite, while leptin sends a signal of satisfaction. The amount of ghrelin increases at night, which causes hunger. At the same time, if you do not get enough sleep, the levels of cortisol and ghrelin in the body can increase, which increases your appetite and can lead to night cravings. Sometimes mental stress, anxiety or boring routine may cause the desire to eat more at night. This can also be a type of emotional eating. Even if your diet throughout the day lacks adequate nutrition, your body still demands calories at night, which leads to late night cravings.

Avoid these things at night

It is important to avoid certain foods during late night cravings, as they can not only harm health but also affect sleep and digestion.

1. Fried and junk food: Things like pizza, burgers, chips, French fries are rich in fat and calories, which take more time to digest. Metabolism slows down at night, which can cause them to get stored in the body as fat. These can cause heaviness and acidity in the stomach, which can disturb sleep.

2. Sweet foods and desserts: pastries, Cakes, cookies, chocolates, sweets all contain high amounts of refined sugar, which can suddenly increase the blood sugar level. It temporarily increases energy levels, thereby disrupting sleep. Eating too much sugar can lead to weight gain and increases the risk of diabetes.

3. Caffeinated Foods and Drinks: Night Time Tea, coffee, chocolate, energy drinks should be avoided. The caffeine present in these stimulates the central nervous system, which can cause difficulty in sleeping. It can also cause restlessness and insomnia.

4. Excessively spicy food: Spicy curry dishes, spicy chaat, spicy food can increase acidity. This can cause heartburn (heartburn) and indigestion, which affects sleep. These can be extremely harmful to health.

5. Alcohol : Alcohol dehydrates the body and disrupts sleep patterns. This puts extra pressure on the liver and does not allow the body to rest late at night.

Make healthy snacks your companion for your night hunger.

It is important to choose healthy snacks to satisfy late night cravings. Such snacks not only satisfy your hunger but also improve digestion, do not interfere with sleep and also reduce the risk of weight gain. Hummus and Vegetable Sticks are rich in protein and fiber and are a great late night option. At the same time, eat Greek yogurt and fresh fruits like apples, bananas or berries mixed with honey. This is a tasty, healthy and protein rich snack. At night you can eat 5-6 almonds, 3-4 walnut pieces and some other dry fruits. They are rich in Omega-3 and protein, which satisfy hunger. Oats, chia seeds, almond milk, honey or maple syrup can also be good options.