Eating before bed is something many people look forward to after a long, hard day. However, as comforting as it feels, what you eat before you sleep can have a major impact on your digestion, sleep quality, and your midsection. Many dinner foods and snacks are high in calories or can cause bloating, which can make your stomach look and feel bigger.
We checked in with our health experts to discover three types of foods you should try to avoid eating before ending your day if you want to achieve a flatter belly. They revealed that processed carbs, salty snacks, and carbonated beverages are the ones to steer clear of. Read on to learn more!
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1. Processed Carbs
Processed carbs are a favorite dinner meal; they include anything from pizza and pasta to snacks like crackers and chips. But these delicious carbs are usually high in refined sugars and low in fiber, which could lead to bloating and even water retention.
By the end of the day, your metabolism will slow down, and eating high-carb foods will likely cause some fat storage over time.
"Processed carbs in the form of white bakery products or sugary snacks tend to elevate blood sugar levels, which in turn brings about more fat accumulation in the body, especially in the stomach. Avoiding such carbohydrates shields you from excess blood insulin increases and excess body fats. Having carbohydrate-rich foods with fibers enables the gullet to function well and maintain a flat stomach. This is good to encourage a slim waist," says Akanksha Kulkarni, registered dietitian nutritionist at Prowise Healthcare.
2. Salty Snacks
Popular snacks before bedtime can range from buttery popcorn to classic potato chips. But sadly, these sodium-rich foods are not the best options for a late-night craving.
Kulkarni notes their high sodium content, which will leave you feeling and looking bloated the next morning.
"Due to time factors as well, food that contains a lot of sodium and is taken in the evening is extremely unsuitable because then there is no activity and its excessive consumption becomes problematic. Keeping away from salt at night before sleeping or after eating supper reduces, though not eliminates, chances of swelling. When I wake up in the morning, my stomach is relatively flat due to this practice. Using low-sodium foods is not only good for general health but also benefits the body in the reduction of clumping or bulging of the stomach," she states. Noted!
3. Carbonated Beverages
Drinks like soda, sparkling water, seltzer, and even beer can feel refreshing to drink after your dinner, but they can hinder your efforts to maintain a flatter stomach.
The carbonation in these beverages creates gas in the digestive system, which leads to bloating. Some of these drinks are also packed with sugar which doesn’t help when it comes to minimizing fat storage around the midsection.
"Soda and carbonated water contain gas, which provokes bloating and discomfort, mostly experienced in the evening when the digestion is sluggish. For this reason, fat may be present even if you haven’t eaten too much, which gives the stomach a bulging look. When you avoid carbonated drinks in the evening, you prevent bloating and let your stomach relax. If you replace evening cocktails with herbal tea or water with lemon, you help the digestive system and keep your stomach flat before going to sleep," Kulkarni states.
