5 types of foods to avoid at night for long-term health benefits
If someone were to ask me for one change in their eating habits for the maximum positive impact on their health, I would suggest fixing their nighttime eating habits.
When I went to college, nighttime cravings were common. Raised in a family that believed in “early to bed, early to rise,” I never had the chance to enjoy nightlife, let alone eat late. So when the opportunity arose, I embraced it. Not only did I start staying up late, but I also began eating significantly after sunset, which is highly discouraged by Ayurveda.
It’s crucial to understand that many illnesses stem from undigested food accumulating in our bodies. As our digestion weakens at night, it’s important to consume food that digests easily.
If you often eat late at night, try this experiment. When you wake up in the morning, you may notice frequent burping or a tickling sensation in your throat. In severe cases, you may experience gastric problems. These are signs of undigested food in your body.
Undigested food can negatively impact your health. The issues I experienced due to undigested food include:
- A sore throat, which can lead to cough and cold
- An upset stomach
These symptoms don’t appear immediately but over time. Unfortunately, even once you’re aware of them, they take time to treat. Many people believe that we should eat a full meal at night since it’s often the only time we can properly eat after completing our day’s work.
Remember, it’s not just about eating early and consuming just enough at night to ensure complete digestion. You should also avoid certain foods for proper digestion. In this article, I will highlight the foods you should avoid at night for optimal digestion.
Cooling nature foods
If you’re uncertain about the cooling and heating properties of food, you can refer to my article:
Assuming you understand that all foods have certain properties that categorize them as hot, cold, or neutral, it’s crucial to note that our digestive fire becomes very low at night. Our bodies naturally cool down at night, which is why it is recommended to avoid eating foods with a cool nature.
In Ayurveda, eating cool foods at night is believed to increase Kapha in the body, possibly leading to symptoms like cough, cold, and stomach upset.
From a digestive perspective, our bodies have a lower digestive fire at night, making it challenging to digest foods. Consuming cool foods can further diminish this fire, making digestion even more difficult.
Common cool-nature foods often consumed at night include:
- Fruits
- Curd
- Ice creams
- Cold drinks
High-protein vegetarian foods
Vegetarian foods that are rich in protein, for instance, Rajma (otherwise known as kidney beans) and Chola (commonly known as chickpeas), can pose a challenge to digest when consumed at night due to their intricate molecular structures. These particular types of foods are packed with a considerable amount of fiber and proteins, components that necessitate a significant amount of energy and an extended period for effective digestion.
Given that the body’s metabolic processes and digestive functions typically decelerate as the day progresses into the night, this situation can result in undigested food remaining in the digestive system. This, in turn, can cause a series of digestive issues, such as the uncomfortable sensation of gas, bloating, and general discomfort.
For this reason, it is highly recommended to consume these protein-rich vegetarian foods earlier in the day, when your digestive system is at its peak performance and is more capable of breaking down complex food structures.
Oily and spicy foods
It’s important to note that consuming foods that are high in oils and spices before bedtime can potentially lead to discomfort, indigestion, and troublesome heartburn. These types of foods tend to be heavy in nature and, therefore, take a considerably longer time to digest.
Due to this extended digestion process, your sleep could be disrupted, negatively affecting your rest and recovery. Furthermore, the intensity of spicy foods can stimulate the senses in a way that makes it considerably more difficult to fall into a peaceful sleep.
It can trigger a level of alertness that is counterproductive to initiating sleep. Therefore, in order to ensure a good night’s rest and maintain a healthy digestive system, it’s highly advisable to avoid or at least limit the consumption of excessively oily and spicy foods during the night.
Maida-made items
Maida, also known as refined flour, is a food that you should consider avoiding, particularly at night. Why is this? Maida undergoes an intense refining process, during which it’s stripped of almost all its natural nutrients. This includes essential elements like fiber and various vitamins, resulting in a product that is almost pure starch.
Because maida is so refined and lacks fiber, it’s challenging for our bodies to digest. This can lead to indigestion and other digestive issues. This becomes even more problematic at night, when our digestive system tends to slow down. Consuming maida at night can increase the risk of digestive discomfort, including bloating, gas, and even constipation.
Another significant drawback of maida is its high glycemic index. Foods with a high glycemic index cause a rapid spike in blood sugar levels after eating. If you consume maida at night, it can lead to an unhealthy increase in blood sugar levels, which can be detrimental to those with conditions like diabetes. Even for those without such conditions, frequent spikes in blood sugar can contribute to weight gain and other health issues.
Packaged & Outside Foods
Packaged and outside foods are generally not recommended for nighttime consumption due to several reasons. First and foremost, these types of foods often contain high levels of sodium, sugars, unhealthy fats, and preservatives, all of which can prove challenging for your digestive system to process, especially during the night when your metabolism slows down.
These foods also lack the necessary nutrients that your body requires for proper functioning and overall health. Consuming them regularly can lead to nutrient deficiencies, weight gain, and other health issues, such as diabetes and heart disease.
Moreover, the hygiene and quality of outside food can often be questionable. Consuming such food can increase the risk of foodborne illnesses, especially if it’s not prepared and stored properly.
Lastly, eating these foods at night can disrupt your sleep patterns. This is due to the fact that your body has to work harder to digest these foods, which can lead to discomfort and interrupted sleep.
Final Thoughts
In essence, what you should be focusing on is consuming simple, home-cooked meals. The benefits of home-cooked meals are numerous, including the fact that they are typically healthier and lower in calories. They also allow you to control the ingredients that go into your food, which means you can avoid preservatives and other unhealthy additives. And, of course, cooking at home can also save you money.
Now, it’s perfectly fine to indulge in a cheat meal once a week. We’re all humans, and sometimes the cravings just get the better of us. However, it’s important to ensure that these cheat meals don’t become a regular occurrence. Remember, moderation is key, so try to limit your cheat meals to no more than once per week. By following these guidelines, you can maintain a healthy diet while still enjoying the foods you love at night.
Although I enjoy sharing my experiences to help others going through similar phases of life, I primarily write about productivity and healthy lifestyles. If you’re interested in learning more about these topics, please follow and subscribe. If you find my content helpful, show your appreciation by giving me a clap. Your support encourages me to create more!
