You can’t get a good night’s sleep? You often wake up in the middle of the night?
While there are obviously many reasons why we might wake up during the night, this (unfortunately very common) bad habit is the most common cause.
You Keep Waking Up At Night? Here’s Why
According to experts, the main reason we can’t have a good, uninterrupted sleep is because we eat too much before going to bed.
Our body is programmed to digest food during the day and rest at night. Consuming heavy meals just before bedtime can disrupt the natural circadian rhythm.
How?
Eating too much before bed takes longer for digestion, which can cause discomfort and physical problems during the night.
This happens because our digestive system works more slowly when we are lying down, which means heavy foods may stay in the stomach longer than normal, increasing the risk of acid reflux and abdominal pain.
Additionally, excessive food consumption right before bedtime can negatively affect our blood sugar levels. When we eat large amounts of food, especially foods rich in carbohydrates and sugars, our body produces a spike in insulin, followed by a sharp drop in blood sugar levels.
To counteract the low blood sugar level, the body releases cortisol (the stress hormone), which disrupts the sleep cycle and keeps us awake at night.
Finally, digesting a heavy meal late at night is an energy-consuming process that will increase internal body temperature. This prevents us from falling asleep with restful sleep, as this requires a lower internal body temperature.
To conclude, consider eating a few hours before you go to sleep to allow your body to fully digest before you rest.
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This article first appeared on Grazia.it
