How Eating at Night Can Be Healthy
Eating at night and not getting fat — is it a reality or a luxury available only to the lucky ones with good genes? The Fashiongton Post tells you today what you can eat if the clock is already showing 10 p.m.
The sleep period is the longest period of time that most people go without any food. Contrary to stereotypes, eating at night can be healthy. For example, eating cottage cheese at night allows you to take advantage of the period of time when your body uses energy, and turns it into an opportunity for instant muscle protein synthesis and growth. Simply speaking, eating protein foods at night helps the body recover faster after physical activities, as well as improves net protein balance. So, here’s our list of delicious and healthy nighttime snacks.
What can you eat at bedtime
Cottage cheese with different fillings: add a couple of spoons of maple syrup, honey, your favorite nuts and berries to it. Keep an eye on the calorie content, so it is better to take supplements in small quantities, just to diversify the taste and add some useful elements.
Greek Yogurt with Chia Seeds: it’s practically a double protein bomb! Remember that after adding the seeds, they must immediately be thoroughly mixed, so that lumps do not form. In addition, you may use maple syrup or honey, as well as berries and nuts.
Dried fruits and nuts mix: pumpkin seeds, roasted almonds, dried cranberries, raisins and mango pieces, coconut flakes and apple chips.
Almond Butter Yogurt: 1 cup unflavored yogurt, ¼ cup unsalted almond paste, 1 tablespoon maple syrup or honey, 1 teaspoon lemon zest, ½ teaspoon cinnamon, ½ teaspoon dried ginger.
Strawberry pudding: 2 cups frozen strawberries, 340 g soft tofu, 2 tablespoons honey, 1 teaspoon lemon zest, ½ teaspoon cinnamon — beat everything until smooth, store in the fridge.
Eggs with avocados: it is advisable to boil the eggs, peel and chop the avocado, and use soy sauce instead of salt.
What you cannot eat at bedtime
For a healthy sleep, it is not recommended to eat something spicy, drink alcohol and caffeinated drinks and eat fatty foods that are hard to digest. You should not also eat hard cheese, because it contains a large amount of the amino acid called tyramine, making it more difficult to fall asleep than if you would eat a banana or oatmeal instead.
As you see, you can safely have a snack 30 minutes before bedtime, without worrying about extra pounds, and even benefit from it!