“Activities such as eating and exercise stimulate our body and impact sleep quality and ability to fall asleep,” explains Sandra (Yujia) Zhang, MS, RDN, a registered dietitian nutritionist at the Frances Stern Nutrition Center at Tufts Medical Center. “It roughly takes about three hours for our stomach to empty its contents.”
When you eat late at night, your body has to split its energy between digestion and the natural wind-down process that prepares you for sleep. Blood flow is redirected to the stomach and intestines, body temperature can rise, and hormones involved in digestion are activated—all of which send “wake up” signals to your brain. This can make it harder to fall asleep and stay asleep, even if you don’t notice it happening.
Parade chatted with registered dietitians to learn about what happens to your body when you stop eating three hours before bed, and how it can impact your sleep and the various systems within your body. Here's everything you need to know.
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“Before bedtime, our body winds down and transitions to a parasympathetic response that signals relaxation,” explains Zhang. If you continue consuming food too close to bedtime, Tracey Brigman, MS, RDN, LD, a registered dietitian and clinical associate professor at the University of Georgia, and Laura O’Connor, RD,at NYU Grossman Long Island School of Medicine, note that you run the risk of experiencing increased bouts of acid reflux or heartburn and potentially experiencing sleep disruptions. Nobody wants that.
If you do need to eat less than three hours before bedtime, our experts recommend keeping your options light and low in fat. After all, you don’t want your body to keep you up all night and/or have a disrupted night’s sleep because you’re hungry.
What Happens to Your Body When You Stop Eating 3 Hours Before Bed
Many systems in your body undergo essential processes after you stop consuming food three hours before bed, all of which are important to keep in mind as you plan your last meal (or snack) of the day.
Related: This Is the One Thing You Should Do Every Night if You Want To Lose Weight, According To Registered Dietitians
Your natural melatonin increases
Related: 3 Late-Night Snacks That Actually Support Your Metabolism, According to Registered Dietitians
Since your body is less likely to release cortisol, aka the “stress hormone” (which can be triggered by eating), after three hours, Zhang notes that one is less likely to be stressed, which helps their circadian rhythm adhere to its normal cycle.
Your body works to burn stored fat
Since your body will have likely been able to completely digest your last few bites within the three hours, “your body will burn more stored fat instead of digesting the food in the stomach,” explains O’Connor.
Your muscles can repair themselves more efficiently
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Mariana Dineen, RD, a registered dietitian and the founder of Elemento HealthTracey Brigman, MS, RDN, LD, a registered dietitian and clinical associate professor at the University of Georgia. Sandra (Yujia) Zhang, MS, RDN, a registered dietitian nutritionist at the Frances Stern Nutrition Center at Tufts Medical Center. Laura O’Connor, RD, NYU Grossman Long Island School of MedicineHence then, the article about here s exactly what happens to your body when you stop eating 3 hours before bed was published today ( ) and is available on Parade ( Saudi Arabia ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
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