[toc]Are you a fruit lover? Do you find yourself eating a healthy snack of fruit before bed? Well, think again because this may not be the best idea. Research has shown that eating fruits at night may not be as healthy as previously believed. It actually has its own set of side effects. So let’s take a look at some of those side effects.
Can Cause a Spike in Your Blood Sugar Levels
One of the side effects of eating fruits at night is that it can cause a spike in your blood sugar levels. This goes for fruit juices as well. So if you are someone who has diabetes or pre-diabetes, this may not be the best idea because it could increase your insulin resistance which will make you more vulnerable to type 2 diabetes.
It Can Cause Diabetes
Eating fruits at night can actually cause some serious medical issues as well. Talking about diabetes, eating too much sugary fruit at night can also cause diabetes.
This is because eating a lot of sugar, especially late at night, overloads the liver and causes it to start breaking down stored glycogen into glucose. And once your liver starts doing this, your blood sugar levels will go up, and you will eventually develop type II diabetes. So always make sure to wait for a couple of hours to go to bed after you eat fruit.
It Can Cause You to Gain Weight
Another side effect of eating fruits at night is that it can cause you to gain weight. This is because when you eat fruit, it contains natural sugars, which, if consumed in excess, will be stored as fat in your body. So if you are trying to lose weight or maintain a healthy weight, then eating fruit before bed may not be the best idea.
It Can Interrupt Your Sleep Cycle
Eating fruits at night can also interrupt your sleep cycle. This is because when you eat foods high in sugar and carbohydrates close to bedtime, they can stimulate the production of serotonin which will keep you awake and prevent you from falling asleep easily. So if you are someone who struggles to get a good night’s sleep, then eating fruit before bed may not be the best idea for you.
It Can Keep You Up At Night
If you have to wake up early in the morning, then you should avoid eating fruits before bed. This is because when you eat fruit before bed, the natural sugars in it will be converted to fat and can cause heartburn. This means that if you suffer from acid reflux or any other stomach problems, then eating fruits at night should be avoided as much as possible.
Fruits with High Water Content Can Disturb Your Sleep
Eating fruits with high water content before bed can also disturb your night’s sleep. This is because when you eat foods that are high in water, it will cause an increase in your metabolism which means more work for the kidneys, and this can interrupt your sleeping patterns as well. In addition, you will have to wake up and go to the bathroom after every few minutes, which isn’t going to be good for your sleep.
It Can Cause Pressure on Your Stomach
Eating fruits before bed can also cause pressure on your stomach. This is because when you eat any food at night, especially fruit, it will sit in the stomach and ferment, which over time may lead to acid reflux or heartburn, as we learned earlier. This is why if you are someone who has acid reflux or GERD, then it is best to avoid eating fruits before bed.
It Can Disturb Your Digestive System
Eating fruits at night can also disturb your digestive system. This is because when you eat any food before bed, it will take longer for your stomach to digest, which will cause discomfort and bloating.
So if you are someone who experiences these problems regularly, then eating fruit before bed may not be the best idea for you. It Can Cause You to Have Bad Breath
It Can Cause You to Be Constipated
Eating fruits at night can also cause you to be constipated. This is because when you eat any food before bed, it will slow down your digestive system, and this will cause constipation over time.
So if you are someone who experiences problems with constipation, then eating fruit before bed may not be the best idea for you.
It Can Cause Diarrhea
Eating fruits at night can also cause diarrhea, and this is because when you eat any food before bed, it will slow down your digestive system, which means that everything else in your stomach will move slowly, too, causing loose stools or even diarrhea.
So if you are someone who has problems with constipation already, then eating fruit before bed may not be the best idea for you. It Can Make You Feel Sick
It Can Be Bad For Your Dental Health
Eating fruit before bed can also be bad for your dental health. This is because when you eat any food before bed, especially something like fruits that are high in sugar content, it will increase the amount of bacteria in your mouth which over time may lead to tooth decay and cavities.
So if you are someone who struggles with their oral hygiene already or has problems with tooth pain, then eating fruit before bed may not be the best idea for you.
Some Fruits Can Make You Feel Gassy
Some fruits can make you feel gassy when you eat them before going to bed. This is because they are high in sugar, and this will ferment inside your stomach, causing gas which may be very uncomfortable for some people, especially if they have problems with stomach bloating already or suffer from acid reflux or GERD.
So if you don’t want to experience these side effects, then it’s best that you avoid eating fruit before bed as much as possible.
You Can Choke On a Fruit If You Are Eating It While In Bed
You can also choke on fruit if you are eating it while in bed. This is because when you eat any food before bed, your reflexes will be slower, and this means that you will have a higher chance of choking on something like a piece of fruit. So if you don’t want to experience this, then it’s best that you avoid eating fruit before bed as much as possible.
Some People Have Allergies to Certain Fruits
Some people have allergies to certain fruits. This is because of the compounds found in the said fruit. This means that if you eat a fruit that you are allergic to before bed, then you will experience side effects like sneezing, watery eyes, and even a rash.
So if you know that you are allergic to any type of fruit, then it’s best that you avoid eating them before bed as much as possible. This will definitely ruin your sleep and destroy your chances of being productive during the day.
Can I Drink Fruit Juice Instead Of The Fruit Itself?
Well, drinking fruit juice can have somewhat the same side effects as eating the fruit itself because it will still have sugar content in it, it can still make you feel bloated, and it can have the same side effects as eating the fruit.
This is because when you drink fruit juice, it will be broken down in your stomach quickly to release the sugar inside. This means that once again, everything else in your stomach will move slowly, causing gas or bloating, and if this happens, then eating a piece of fruit before bed may not be the best idea for you as well.
Internal Digestive System If You Eat Fruit before Bed
People who eat a lot of fruits before bed can have problems with their internal digestive system because they are disrupting something called circadian rhythm, which is also known as our body clock.
Fruits contain high levels of tryptophan which helps induce sleep but only during daytime hours, so what means is that consuming them at night will actually inhibit sleep and can lead to you not feeling well during the day.
So if you are someone who has problems with insomnia or other sleeping disorders, then eating fruit before bed may not be a good idea for you as it can make your condition worse, especially if these conditions prevent you from getting a good night’s rest already.
Can Make You Feel Tired When You Wake Up
If you eat a lot of fruit before bed, then you will likely feel tired when you wake up in the morning. This is because the sugar found in the fruit will cause your blood sugar level to spike and then drop quickly.
This means that you will not only feel tired but also grumpy and irritable. So if you don’t want to experience this, it’s best that you avoid eating fruit before bed as much as possible.
Can Make You Feel Bloated
When you eat fruit, the sugar found in it is broken down quickly, and this means that everything else in your stomach will move slowly too. This can cause gas or bloating, and if this happens, then eating a piece of fruit before bed may not be the best idea for you as well. So if you don’t want to experience any of these side effects, it’s best that you avoid eating fruit before bed as much as possible.
Fruits That You Can Eat Around Bed Time?
There are some fruits that you can eat around bed time, such as apples, bananas, and oranges. These three types of fruit have high levels of antioxidants which help protect your body from free radicals formed during the day.
Cherries and pineapples are also a good option for eating near your bed time. However, make sure that you only eat a small quantity of the fruit; otherwise, it can be problematic for you.
How Much Time Should I Wait Before Going To Bed??
Ideally, it would help if you waited for at least two to three hours before going to bed after eating fruit. This is because it will take your body that long to digest the fruit, and once it’s digested, you will not experience any of the side effects mentioned above. So if you don’t want to experience any of these side effects, make sure that you eat your last piece of fruit at least two hours before going to bed.
So there are definitely some things that you need to keep in mind when it comes to eating fruits before bed. First, make sure that you avoid eating them as much as possible if you don’t want to experience any negative side effects like feeling tired when you wake up, feeling bloated, or having problems with your internal digestive system.
So if you don’t want to experience any of these side effects, make sure that you eat your last piece of fruit at least two hours before going to bed, and ideally, it should be around three hours as well, just so your body has enough time to digest the food properly. So next time you feel like having a snack in the middle of the night, try to avoid eating fruit.