And about the fact that after 18 – no, no. Forget it! It doesn’t matter if you want to lose a lot of weight or lose just a couple of extra pounds, dinner should definitely be part of your diet.
Of course, you have heard that at night the metabolism is reduced. But work in your body goes on all the time. While you sleep, new hormones are formed, skin and hair cells divide. And for all this, the body needs resources, which you will receive if you eat properly.
General principles of nutrition at night
Despite the fact that many still believe that it is necessary to have dinner at least three hours before bedtime, and then lead some kind of active life in the evening, firstly, not everyone follows this idea, and secondly, in fact it turns out to be not so easy to implement. Yes, and experts agree that there is nothing so monstrous in eating before bedtime.
When we sleep, the body does not turn off completely – it continues to function, including the gastrointestinal tract. The only question is what exactly and in what volumes they eat at night in order to feel cheerful and well-rested in the morning.
So, what are the general principles of eating at night?
1. Going to bed hungry is bad! Yes exactly. If the stomach is completely empty and the body signals a strong hunger, there is nothing good in going to bed in this state. This will entail a number of problems: from insomnia to disruption of the digestive tract.
2. When choosing what to eat before going to bed, remember which foods are better not to eat at night: this will refer to fatty, high-calorie, heavy foods that the body simply cannot digest at night, causing problems with the gastrointestinal tract and excess weight. Well, do not forget to control the volume – a stomach overflowing even with light cottage cheese and leafy vegetables will not tell you “thank you” at night.
3. Answering the question of what foods to eat at night to lose weight, experts agree that it is worth giving preference to protein foods. They are easily digested and do not block the production of somatotropin hormone, which is also responsible for burning fat cells.
4. What foods should not be eaten at night, in addition to fatty high-calorie foods? Alcoholic drinks, sugary and caffeinated drinks (tea, coffee). Give preference to light herbal teas with chamomile or mint – they do not overexcite the nervous system and help you fall asleep.
In more detail on the question of what kind of foods are eaten at night, so as not to harm health, Mikhail Gavrilova, Ph.D., author of the methodology for correcting eating behavior, answers.
What foods can be eaten at night
Stewed, baked, grilled, in a double boiler or slow cooker – you can cook this meat in any way you like. By the way, the white meat of chicken and turkey contains the amino acid tryptophan, which calms and sets you up for sleep better than any herbal tea. But do not forget about the quantity – 130 g of chicken or turkey for dinner, no more.
Sea fish
In terms of absorption, this product will give odds to poultry meat. Unlike freshwater inhabitants, marine inhabitants are rich in trace elements that are necessary for the synthesis of skin proteins – collagen and elastane.
squids
The most dietary seafood option. And there is a lot of protein in it, and iodine, which is necessary for the normal functioning of the thyroid gland, is enough. For dinner, dishes from boiled or stewed squid without oil are suitable.
Eggs
A traditional morning product can be the basis for preparing a hearty healthy dinner, such as frittata with vegetables. Chicken protein is balanced in amino acid composition, which means that the body will receive everything necessary for the synthesis of hormones. By the way, in the evening it is recommended to eat only egg whites, it is better to leave the yolk in the morning.
Lentils
Superfood for Vegetarian Dinner. After all, these legumes combine both proteins and carbohydrates. For dinner, it is better to choose black lentils. In addition, it is quickly prepared – only 5 minutes.
green vegetables
Lettuce, cucumbers, peppers, sprouts – all these products are low in calories, but at the same time contain useful fiber and water-soluble vitamins. The latter are necessary for the formation of skin cells (as you remember, this process intensifies at night). In the evening, it is enough to eat about 250 g of green salad.
Buckwheat
This is a low-calorie cereal – a valuable source of a mass of trace elements useful for you. But a couple of spoons of boiled buckwheat with vegetables is what you need!
Cottage cheese
Choose cottage cheese no more than 5 percent fat. Make cheesecakes or a casserole out of it – so you get a feeling of satiety not for a couple of hours, but for at least.
