Home LivingWellnessSleepEating before bed? Here’s how eating late at night affects your sleepDoes eating before bed help or hurt your sleep?When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
Home LivingWellnessSleepEating before bed? Here’s how eating late at night affects your sleepDoes eating before bed help or hurt your sleep?When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
Does eating before bed help or hurt your sleep?
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Ron Lach / Pexels)
(Image credit: Ron Lach / Pexels)
Did you know that you could be sabotaging your chances of getting a good night’s sleep without even realising it? Having goodsleep hygienemakes a world of difference to your health and wellbeing, and there are many things you can do throughout the day to improve how you sleep at night, from exercising to meditation and beyond.
To help cut through the confusion, we looked into how eating late at night can help or hinder your sleep, as well as the overall effect it has on your body. Before we get into it, set yourself up for sleep success every night with thebest mattress.
What time should I eat before bed?
Many studies have looked into the influence of meal timings over how well we sleep at night and how quickly we get to sleep. Despite all of this research, there isn’t a definitive answer, but many researchers agree that eating should be kept in time with your circadian rhythm.
The circadian rhythm or body clock influences many aspects of our daily life, from sleep to hormones, hunger to metabolism. According toHealthline, to match your circadian rhythm, the “recommended eating window is less than or equal to 8-12 hours a day, during daylight hours.” Eating outside of this window can cause weight gain and blood sugar concerns, and increase the risk of developing problems, like obesity, heart disease and diabetes.
(Image credit: Pablo Merchan Montes / Unsplash)
(Image credit: Pablo Merchan Montes / Unsplash)
Other experts suggest that you should eat at least 2-3 hours before you plan to turn in for the night. This window gives your body time to digest food properly so you’re not up all night uncomfortable, and helps avoid problems like acid reflux or indigestion. It’s very similar toexercising before bed, as doing a strenuous workout or eating a huge meal before you sleep goes against what your body is meant to be doing, i.e. resting and recuperating.
Of course, eating 2-3 hours before bed isn’t always achievable, especially if you work shifts, but fear not, as there are many pros and cons to eating late at night which could be to your benefit.
Sign up to the T3 newsletter for smarter living straight to your inbox
Get all the latest news, reviews, deals and buying guides on gorgeous tech, home and active products from the T3 experts
The pros & cons of eating late at night
Eating late at night has its positives and negatives. Eating closer to bedtime can help you curb late night eating as you’re full before going to bed and it’ll stop you waking up hungry in the night. The amount you eat will also help, as if you have a nutritious balanced meal at night, you’re less likely to want a midnight snack.
For the cons, eating late at night can disturb your circadian rhythm as you’re not in keeping with your body clock or sleep routine. If you eat the wrong foods before bed (see8 foods to eat for a good night’s sleep & 4 to avoidfor more), you can keep yourself up longer with stomach pains, acid reflux and heartburn.
(Image credit: Kampus Production / Pexels)
(Image credit: Kampus Production / Pexels)
Depending on your goals, a pro or a con for eating before bed is weight gain or loss. Many people avoid eating before bed as they believe it can have an effect on their weight. While this is true in some cases, many researchers have found opposing views that it can make you gain weight as well as lose weight. According toWoman & Home, “it’s consistently eating late which can have negative impacts… it can trigger a set of processes that changes the way we want to eat and could lead us to eat more than we need to”. This mainly consists of late night cravings and changes in appetite which can cause you to over or under eat.
A fitness expert says you only need this three minute mobility routine to improve your posture – so I tried itWas three minutes really enough to ease stiffness in my shoulders, neck and hips?
Was three minutes really enough to ease stiffness in my shoulders, neck and hips?
These open-ear headphones could light up your life (and your ears)Samsung isn’t the only tech firm that wants to illuminate your lugs
Samsung isn’t the only tech firm that wants to illuminate your lugs
Waking up for work is tough in the winter – but smart tech can help you avoid that snooze buttonHow smart tech makes winter mornings run smoother
How smart tech makes winter mornings run smoother
Nutritionist reveals 3 foods you should eat before bed to stay warmStruggling to stay warm during the night? Try eating some of these
Struggling to stay warm during the night? Try eating some of these
Are headbands the new sleep technology trend?
Hatch’s latest sunrise alarm clock finally has a phone-free design – and I’m obsessedHatch launches the Restore 3 wake-up light and it could drastically improve your mornings
Hatch launches the Restore 3 wake-up light and it could drastically improve your mornings
This ERA mattress topper can turn your mattress into a smart sleep tracking deviceThe ERA Smart Layer is my favourite wellness product from CES 2025
The ERA Smart Layer is my favourite wellness product from CES 2025
Withings’ smart mirror combines a smartwatch and scales into a full-length health scannerWithings debuts new conceptual smart health mirror at CES 2025
Withings debuts new conceptual smart health mirror at CES 2025
6 gadgets to get you through Dry JanuaryWith Christmas and New Year out of the way, we take a look at some of the best gadgets to use for Dry January
With Christmas and New Year out of the way, we take a look at some of the best gadgets to use for Dry January
This pillow flip sleep hack can help you beat Christmas insomnia – and it takes secondsIf you love the cold side of the pillow, you’ll love this quick sleep hack
If you love the cold side of the pillow, you’ll love this quick sleep hack
