Best Time Of Day To Eat

Most of us learn what we should and shouldn't eat to stay healthy. There is not much information published about when we should or shouldn't eat. If you ask fitness experts or nutritionists, they will almost always say to eat frequent small meals throughout the day but none after 7 p.m. so that our metabolism can operate at optimum efficiency. Since our body slows down at night so we can sleep, late night dining is thought to be not a good idea. We just don't burn many calories when we sleep.

A heavy meal late at night is a problem because of digestion. Our body is supposed to relax at night, if you fill your stomach up right before you go to bed the body has to work to digest food instead of resting. Therefore the quality of our sleep is not the same and we wake up the next morning feeling as if we really have not slept. But that doesn't mean you can't eat a light meal at night. The time at which you consume the food has nothing to do with losing weight.. Consider the European habit of eating dinner around 9 o'clock at night. As a population Europeans have less of a weight problem than Americans do. The most important factor in weight loss is how many calories you consume; not when you eat them.

The American problem has more to do with snacking more frequently and consuming large quantities of high fat foods. If you eat a big meal right before bedtime, you may experience an upset tummy as our bodies prefer to digest food when we are upright and not lying down. You won't experience any difference in weight loss though if you ate that same meal at 6 pm. A large meal is not good at any time if you want to lose weight.

Eating small frequent meals allows your stomach to stay fuller and you are less likely to overeat. Eating after 6 or 7 pm at night may be the only time you can sit and have a relaxed dinner. Eating at an unhurried pace also helps your digestive system. Eating food rapidly makes you gulp air with your food and gas problems result. Fat takes the longest to digest and leave the stomach, so if you are going to snack late at night try to avoid high fat foods such as nuts, meat, and cheese. Try eating complex carbs as they will fill you up but won't take as long to digest as high fat food and won't give you any kind of a sugar high. High fiber cereal, whole wheat bread and oatmeal are good example of complex carbs. Eggs are easily digested so even though they have a lot of protein, they are a good choice.

If you work a late shift you may not feel much like eating because at night your body automatically wants to slow down digestion and rest. Some foods can cause digestive problems at night yet be well tolerated if eaten during the day. Causes of gastrointestinal problems for late night workers are snack foods with a high fat content, caffeine and meals eaten in a rush or at irregular times. To avoid experiencing heartburn or indigestion, don't eat cabbage, cucumbers, onions, high-fat or fried meals, and spicy foods before or during your shift. Late night workers should eat small, regular meals with a balance of whole grain carbohydrates, protein, and heart-healthy fats before 1 a.m. Choose carbohydrates that are low in fat and high in fiber like whole grain bread, fruit, and low-fat dairy. Keep your fluid levels up by drinking lots of water. For snacks, bring fruit, vegetables, low-fat yogurt, cottage cheese, whole wheat crackers, pretzels or popcorn. When your shift is over, have a very light meal or snack before you go to bed.

Dieticians also advise night shift workers to exercise either before or halfway through their shift, to help maintain alertness and overall cardiovascular health. Short periods of exercise can help you feel more alert and energized in the last part of your shift. Also, if you sit during most of your shift, getting up and stretching will help with your circulation and release tension from your muscles.