Probably most of us at least once or twice went to the fridge at 3 am due to uncontrollable hunger. It is not a big deal in case we do this once or twice, but if we do it often that is bad.
According to one new research if this is something we normally do we might be in trouble. This habit of late-night snacking might have alarming consequences when it comes to our health.
More About the Research
Forbes indulging in late-night might lead to heart disease and diabetes. It might not be connected to what we eat, but when we eat.
Bear in mind that our internal clocks are set to the cycle of day to night, and they dictate when we eat and sleep. If we disrupt this pattern that might influence our triglyceride levels also known as fat blood levels.
According to one research on animals in Mexico City feeding rodents at the start of their normal rest period actually spiked triglyceride levels. However, the dramatic rise did not occur when the rodents were fed at the start of their activity cycle.
High triglycerides do not cause diabetes. But, high triglycerides are a sign that our system does not work properly. As a matter of fact, high triglycerides might be a sign of insulin resistance.
This might mean that our body is not properly responding to insulin and that over time it might cause high blood glucose levels. In turn, that might lead to heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
Late-night snacks contribute to additional calories which might cause weight gain. In case we often snack after the evening meal, especially if our snack is with carbs we might have high blood glucose levels the next morning.
Which Snacks to Choose
In case one’s had their dinner and they are still hungry they must make sure to opt for the better snacks.
Those snacks are:
- Light popcorn – 1 cup
- Sugar-free frozen cream pop – 1
- Baby carrots – 5
- One handful of crackers goldfish-style
- Diet soda – 1 can
Also, another thing we can do is swap the snack for one small hard candy or a piece of gum. The snacks above mentioned have few calories and carbs, and that is why we need to opt for them since they won’t lead to elevated blood glucose or weight gain.
In case we take diabetes drugs such as insulin, and we need to snack before bedtime in order to prevent low blood glucose during the night we must make sure to consult a doctor.
She or he might recommend adjusting the dose of our drugs in order to prevent the need to have snacks late at night.
