Search Here

Late-night cravings and snacks can ruin any diet, especially if the options you choose are high in calories, fat and sugar. Certain snacks can also hurt mental health. Instead of skipping these snacks completely, learn which ones you should avoid. Here are five foods to avoid eating past 8PM.

1. Chocolate

Chocolate is a snack you should skip because it is high in sugar and calories. Even though dark chocolate can be healthy in moderation since it contains magnesium and antioxidants, chocolate in general has caffeine, which can ruin your sleep.

2. Nut butter

Nut butters are very healthy for the body because they are full of good fats. These butters, however, take a while to be digested in the body. If you eat them later during the evening and in large quantities, the butters will sit in your stomach throughout the night.

3. Alcohol

Alcohol can be very bad for the body, especially if you are trying to lose weight. Not only can alcohol ruin your diet plans, it can also hinder your sleep. Even though alcohol might make you feel sleepy, it disrupts your REM (rapid eye movement) sleep, which can explain why you wake up feeling groggy and tired the following morning.

4. Junk Food

Eating too much junk food after 8PM could lead to an expanding waistline as well as an increased risk of several health diseases. On top of that, some studies have found that eating refined sugars and saturated fats late at night can lead to nightmares.

5. Spicy food

Spicy foods have been linked to boosting metabolism and promoting weight loss. Spicy foods eaten after 8PM, however, can ruin your sleep. The spices used in these types of meals raise your body temperature, making it harder for you to get restful sleep.