Certain types of food should be banned from the dinner table if you want to stay healthy and sleep well. In this article, we sum up the main villains.
Simple carbohydrates
Ok, that one was obvious! Soda, juices, packaged meals and cookies, cakes and breads – anything that is loaded with sugar and has a high glycemic index which means it quickly absorbs into the bloodstream resulting in unwanted fat.
Spicy food
Hearty and fulfilling, spicy recipes are nevertheless not the best choice for dinner. They can cause heartburn, especially if you’re a late meal lover.
Fatty food
An occasional burger with chips for lunch is not the healthiest choice but our body can still digest it with no consequences. Too bad the same can’t be said about an occasional greasy dinner. When eaten too late, this type of food takes a toll on your gastrointestinal tract and leaves your poor stomach awake and busy all night.
Starchy food
Potatoes, rice or pasta need to be ‘burned off’. They create a lot of energy in our bodies and are perfect as a pre-workout meal. But if your only goal for tonight is to watch movie and go to sleep, you definitely won’t burn it off, so the yummiest mac’n’cheese will be stored as fat instead. Starchy food also creates elevated blood sugar and insulin – not good at any time of the day!
Chocolate
Chocolate contains caffeine. And caffeine prevents you from falling asleep. It’s as simple as that!
Alcohol
Many people can’t imagine their evening meal without a glass of wine. But experts confirm that drinking alcohol makes you feel hungrier and crave carbohydrates. Say hello to overeating! In some cases, alcohol also triggers the release of cortisol, also known as the ‘stress hormone’, so you end up feeling worried and restless at night.