We’ve all been there…
To some of us when we can’t sleep or when we are feeling extra nervous and anxious, those late-night snacks can act as our late-night companions.
And they do a really great job of curbing our nighttime woes, especially when we need something instantly to fill the void.
But did you know that it takes roughly three hours (or even longer) for our food to digest because our digestive system has to break everything down?
Not only that, but getting into the habit of eating late can lead to a whole list of other bad side effects such as interrupted sleep, digestive issues, bloating, heartburn, and the dreaded weight gain.
Luckily, there are a few easy yet painless tips that will save you from these side effects.
And since those late-night snacks are not doing your body any good, here are 6 smart ways to reduce those nighttime food cravings the next time you start feeling like tiptoeing to the kitchen.
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6 Surefire Ways To Stop Snacking At Night
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1. Drink lots of water — water really is nature’s great hunger suppressant.
One of the reasons why you might be heading to the kitchen late at night is that you may think that you’re hungry when in all actuality you’re just really thirsty. So to counteract this, try drinking water first before doing anything else.
Dehydration can cause night cravings so always have a glass of water by your bed. If water doesn’t help? The next tip may just do the trick!
2. Sip on peppermint tea — Science Says it will help curb your nightly food cravings.
If you find yourself craving a huge piece of chocolate pie right before bed, simply brew yourself up a cup of pure peppermint tea instead!
According to science, merely sipping peppermint tea reduces cravings for sugar and fatty food.
Also, a unique study done by Wheeling University showed that just inhaling the scent of peppermint (every two hours) can cause people to eat fewer calories as well.
Other benefits of peppermint tea include faster digestion, rids of some questionable breath and if you become really irritated at times, the mint can soothe those jagged nerves away in minutes.
3. Stop buying your favorite late-night snacks if you want to cut down on snacking late at night.
The next time you’re up late at night and you can’t sleep and you happen to know you have something really yummy in your kitchen, you have to be aware that those yummy snacks will only tempt you to get out of bed to eat them.
Let’s face it, having unhealthy snacks in the kitchen is just a way to sabotage yourself.
So the next time you start craving food in those late-night hours, don’t have any chips or candy bars tucked away in your kitchen. You know they’ll just lead you straight to the kitchen to start snacking away.
4. Eat loads of protein throughout the day to remain full for longer.
According to loads of research, protein helps curb appetite really well and will also help keep your nighttime cravings under control.
It does this because protein helps stimulate gut hormones and those hormones play an important role to help you feel full — for longer.
So always stay stocked up with lots of nuts, yogurt, beans, whole grains, and low-fat poultry and fish as they should do the trick to help you in those later hours when your snacking cravings kick in.
5. Remind yourself that you’re not actually hungry (unless you really are!).
Did you know that hunger is not an emergency (to eat the first thing that you see) unless it really is?!
And late-night snacking isn’t all that bad because at the end of the day, sometimes our bodies actually really need it.
But it’s good to point out that we all have enough energy sources on our bodies to get us through those food cravings at night, especially if snacking late at night has turned into a bad habit for you.
So if you can get into the habit of retraining your body by telling it that you’re not actually hungry, it will be a little uncomfortable at first but your body and mind will eventually adapt.
There are loads of ways to do this and to change your eating habits around. You can start with intermittent fasting or simply by changing your focus to something else when those nighttime cravings ensue.
6. When all else fails, Brush your teeth after dinner or when you are craving to snack more.
Lastly, we all know that it’s never a good idea to eat before bed, no matter what we consume.
And although this may sound really silly, that brushing your teeth straight after eating will help you curb your late-night snacking…
When you do get in the habit of brushing your teeth, you are essentially tricking your brain into thinking that you are getting ready for sleep instead of getting ready to eat.
Moreover, since most kinds of toothpaste come in a variety of minty flavors these days, these flavors make most foods taste really bad.
Plus, once you have clean teeth, it’ll be really hard to dirty your teeth up again, unless you are actually really hungry.
See, isn’t it nice to know that late-night snacking isn’t all that bad and that sometimes our bodies can actually go without it if we place some good unique habits to combat those food cravings?!
Hopefully, these tips help you the next time you feel those late-night cravings kicking in.
See also:
Check out, 11 Ways to Break Bad Habits That You Haven’t Tried Yet, next!
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Author: Rebecca
Hi, my name is Rebecca and I am the face behind Everything Abode! I am a lifestyle and wellness writer based out of Vancouver Island. When I’m not writing or exploring mountains and beaches with my furry rescue, I love spending time learning creative ways to manifest a healthy home. Thanks for stopping by!
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