10 High Calorie Foods You Should Never Eat Before Going To Bed
We all know that going to bed on a full stomach is a big no. After a hard day at work or school, our body needs a break from performing the functions it performs on a daily basis, and your digestive system should be no exception to this. Also eating fatty meals before bed can trigger heartburn. However, if you really need to eat do your best and eat something light, and eat at lest two to three hours before you go to bed.
Top 10 High Calorie Foods You Should Never Eat Before Going To Bed
1. Pasta
Pasta is one of the fattest foods you need to avoid before going to bed. It may sound like an easy fix if you are hungry, especially since there are many pasta recipes that take less than 30 minutes to prepare, but keep in mind that pasta is a very rich source of carbohydrates that will eventually turn into fat when you hit the bed. Keep in mind the classic pasta toppings full of cheese and oils as well as the high glycemic index of this meal, this is you should steer clear from this fatty food before bedtime!
2. Pizza
Who does not like a big, juicy, delicious pizza? However, this is far from being a light meal and your digestive system would have a hard time processing it during the day: try to imagine how difficult it would be for your digestive organs to do that during the evening, when they should rest. Pizza is very greasy and it has ingredients that contain high levels of acidity, thus increasing the risk for heartburn.
3. Candy
You are what you eat, but did you know that you also dream what you eat? Not necessarily literally, but it is a known fact that fatty foods and sugary products (especially candy) have an impact on your brain waves and they can trigger nightmares. If you want a peaceful and relaxing night, then avoid junk food and opt for substitutes like oatmeal, which are lighter and contain less calories.
4. Red Meat
Although you should not avoid red meat overall given the fact that this is a good and nutritious source of proteins and iron, a big juicy stake will prevent you from achieving that deep, relaxing and refreshing sleep we all need after a long and stressful day. For that deep-state sleep to occur, your body systems all need to be at peace: this is exactly what won’t happen if you eat red meat before bedtime.
5. Chocolate
Dark chocolate is very good for your brain and for your memory, but at the same time it is bad for your waistline: especially if you plan to eat it at night, when all the calories will be stored as fat given the fact that your body is at rest. A small piece of chocolate would serve as a great dessert, but the problem is that most people end up binging on chocolate rather than sticking to just one piece.
One of the reasons why you should avoid chocolate before bedtime (especially dark chocolate) is because it is very rich in caffeine and other stimulants that will put your heart at work and keep your mind focused, rather than allowing it to relax and simply disconnect.
6. Vegetables
Veggies are delicious, nutrient-filled diet foods, but they are certainly not a great choice if you plan to go to bed soon, and for a very simple reason: vegetables such as onions, broccoli or cabbage contain high amounts of insoluble fiber which will make you feel full for a longer period of time. This would be fine if you were on a diet during the day, but during the night the fiber moves very slowly in your digestive system, not to mention that they cause excessive flatulence as well.
7. Alcohol Of Any Kind
Alcohol is definitely a sleep killer, given the fact that it can cause night sweats and cause you to wake up repeatedly during the night. Alcohol (especially wine) not only diminished the quality of the sleep, but it also reduces the nightly sleep time and it is very high in calories as well.
8. Cheeseburgers
Just like any other type of fatty, high-calorie foods, cheeseburgers should also be avoided before you go to bed because they stimulate the natural production of acid in the stomach and cause heartburn during the night, just like some of the other foods mentioned above.
9. Chilly Sauce
Chilly is certainly very healthy and beneficial when mixed with specific ingredients, but chilly sauce is a big no if you plan to go to bed soon. This is a high-calorie food that is filled with proteins and slow-burning carbohydrates.
10. Snacks And Chips
Processed snack foods should be avoided at all times, not just before you go to bed, given the fact that they contain high amounts of monosodium glutamate that is known to be linked to a variety of sleep disorders.