Late-night cravings are, at times, inevitable and we end up hogging a bag full of chips and junkies, don’t we? Although our taste buds are well-satisfied after a nice and wholesome platter, there is something still incomplete before you get into the bed. Yes, digestion takes a good amount of time depending on how heavy the meal is and hence, sleeping right after a meal is the most contagious deed you could be doing to your own body.

What happens inside your body?

Digestion is a process that demands your entire body’s attention. When you head to sleep before this is complete, there are potential chances of increase in blood pressure and sugar levels that can lead to a heart arrest when ignored for over a period of time. Not just this, research has proven that people suffer insomnia and digestive problems when they go to sleep within minutes after a meal compared to those who eat well before their sleep hours. This is one other reason why doctors suggest keeping the dinner as early as possible.

Gastro problems

Indigestion is one of the major concerns of people who consume late-night meals. Since, there isn’t much work to do in the night, the only thing the brain will crave for is rest. This often leads to indigestion and gastroesophageal reflux disease in certain cases. While these are treatable, they can often cause discomfort, vomiting, and constipation problems disrupting your regular digestion cycle.

What should be the time interval between your meal and sleep?

Doctors often suggest a two-hour gap between the meal and the time you head to sleep as these golden hours are utilized by your body to digest the food which will contribute a lot to your overall health in several ways. More the gap less is the heart risk. Similarly, it is also important that we avoid heavy carbs and greasy foods for dinner as these might require a much longer time to digest than fiber-rich foods.
We often fail to pay attention to things like these which might cost our life. Simply remember that a healthy lifestyle is all it takes to keep ourselves from menacing risks.