You go to bed every day with the intention of falling asleep, but when you lie down and change positions, a burning sensation rises in your chest, making it even more difficult to fall asleep. You’re having fits of restless sleep punctuated by uncomfortable burping fits. You wake up the following morning feeling lethargic, your stomach still upset from the late-night supper. These are but a handful of the problems that can occur if you have dinner soon before bed.
Many stomach problems and discomforts can result from eating meals late, especially right before bed. Your body finds it difficult to properly digest meals when you lie down, which can cause symptoms like gas, bloating, and acidity. This has a detrimental impact on your health in addition to interfering with your sleep.
It is advised to have your final meal at least two to three hours before bed in order to prevent these issues. This lowers the possibility of experiencing discomfort during the night by giving your body ample time to process the meal.
The Health Problems Caused by Eating Late Dinner:
Bloating: Eating a large meal right before bed might cause bloating by slowing down the digestive process. At night, the body’s metabolic rate naturally drops, which makes it more difficult to properly digest food. Try to finish your dinner a few hours before going to bed to prevent bloating, and choose lighter, easier-to-digest meals.
Gas: Eating late at night may result in a rise in gas output. Uncomfortable gas buildup can result from food fermentation in the stomach and intestines due to improper digestion. Beans, fizzy drinks and high-fat foods are among the things that are known to induce gas, so stay away from them, especially right before bed.
Acidity: Your stomach creates extra acid to aid in the digestion of food when you eat right before bed. After eating, if you lie down too soon, the acid can return to the oesophagus and cause acidity and heartburn. Avoid eating too late and make an effort to remain upright for some time after your last meal to lessen acidity.
Reflux: Late-night eating is frequently linked to gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Acid reflux can occur when you lie down on a full stomach because the stomach’s contents can reflux back into your oesophagus. Avoid eating heavy, hot, or fatty meals just before bed and allow yourself time to digest before dozing off to reduce this risk.
Sleeplessness: Consuming food too soon before going to bed may prevent you from falling asleep. You may feel uncomfortable during the digestion process, and your regular sleep cycle may be disturbed by the rise in body temperature brought on by the metabolism of food.