Instead of directly going to your bed to sleep, there are times (mostly every night) when your stomach has a mind of its own and drags you down the kitchen to eat. Maybe you had dinner a bit early, or you had a lot to do after that and your energy burned out so you’re hungry again.
No matter what the reason might be, you should know that it’s alright to grab a late night snack. Only make sure it doesn’t turn out to be a fourth meal, okay? You might have heard the belief that anything you eat right before you go to bed will never burn off. And now, we’re here to say that that is officially a bluff!
The truth is that your metabolism never entirely shuts down–even when you sleep. While it is also true that if you eat too many calories before you sleep gives you the extra weight, there are still snacks that won’t give you that effect.
That’s why if you’re feeling hungry late at night, don’t starve yourself to death because that would be just worse than satisfying your stomach’s emptiness. The trick is preparing the right and easy midnight snacks for you!
Here are seven healthy late night snacks to nosh before going to bed:
#1. Ham and Cheese Roll-Ups
A slice of tryptophan-packed ham and a small slice of cheese will give you only about 100 calories. The amount of which is enough to satisfy your tummy, but not as much that will gain you extra pounds.
On the other hand, it may also benefit your waistline too. As you know, cheese has an abundance of casein proteins, that is when eaten 30 minutes before you sleep, can improve your metabolism for the next day.
#2. Banana Smoothie
A blend of low-fat milk and banana can supply your body both calcium and vitamin D. According to a study in the Journal of Sleep Research; these two nutrients are said to help decrease the chances of having issues with falling and staying asleep.
This should also be your choice of snack because it’s an excellent source of B6 and magnesium. Therefore helps your body make more serotonin, a relaxing neurotransmitter. Besides, it’s a healthy sweet drink without the need to add sugar!
#3. Tart Cherry Juice
Tart cherry juice has a lot of impressive health benefits. The first one is that it’s high in some essential nutrients such as vitamins A and C, and manganese. Second, it is also a rich source of various antioxidants like flavonols and anthocyanins. It can protect your cells from damaging inflammation that can lead to chronic diseases.
Another thing is that tart cherry juice also has high levels of melatonin, which is a sleep-regulating hormone that also signals your body to get ready for sleep. It relieves insomnia and improves your sleep quality. If you find the tase a bit intense, you can combine it with sparkling water.
#4. Whole Grain Toast with Almond Butter
Almonds are an excellent source of magnesium and a deficiency of which can cause insomnia and muscle cramps–disrupting sleep. The nutrient helps reduce both levels of inflammation and stress hormones called cortisol. Meanwhile, whole grain foods also contain magnesium and other snooze-promoting carbs.
#5. Handful of Walnuts
Like cherry juice, walnuts are also rich in melatonin. An ounce of serving can give about 185 calories, enough to increase your blood levels to improve your sleeping cycle. Note that nuts are high in calories so stick to the serving recommended!
#6. A Cup of Soup
Warm liquids to satisfy your tummy is both calming and great for your digestive system. Prepare those recipes that are easy to digest, since, after a while, you’re going to bed. You can go with broth-based soups like beef, chicken, and pork. Or you can also try butternut squash for a healthier snack.
#7. Cottage Cheese with Natural Peanut Butter
Cottage cheese is an ideal food to eat before you go to sleep because it has a lot of casein proteins, and ensures a steady supply of amino acids during your sleep. Once you add peanut butter, your digestion time will also be increased with your ability to control hunger. But remember to keep the serving of the peanut butter to just a tablespoon or less to avoid calories!
Shake off your belief that you shouldn’t eat before getting your night’s sleep. If your tummy growls out loud, give it what it wants–the proper way. Serve it with the right kind of snack to consume before at least an hour before going to bed. All these friendly tips are given to you by Your Cleaning Fairy!
Keep in mind that, as we mentioned in our previous post, clean and organized surroundings make you sleep better, which is one of the reasons to have one of cleaning services in Calgary do your house cleaning for you.