Have you ever gone to bed on an empty stomach and then felt like a small but determined gremlin was scratching you from the inside in the middle of the night? Well, you're not alone. While going to bed on an empty stomach may seem like a shortcut to your dream figure, the reality is not so cinematic. Being hungry before bed can actually sabotage your sleep—and, consequently, your health.
Why you shouldn't go to sleep hungry? This is what many media outlets are writing about, citing a publication by renowned nutritionist and endocrinologist Ekaterina Tolstikova. Yes, even Instagram sometimes it offers something more useful than just pictures of avocado toast.
What happens if you go to bed hungry?
According to the expert, if you're feeling hungry right before bed, it could mean you've had one of those days—hectic, full of meetings, emails, and caffeine—and your body is lacking the essential nutrients it needs to regenerate overnight. And sleep regeneration isn't something you want to sabotage.
Ignoring hunger and enduring heroic suffering in the name of thinness may sound noble, but your body will quickly bring you back to reality. We need a balanced intake to function optimally during sleep. proteins, healthy fats, carbohydrates and micronutrientsthat we would rather forget.
So – to eat or not to eat? Go to bed hungry?
If it's a one-time nighttime hunger pang – don't panic. As Tolstikova says, the best option is a normal, balanced meal. But if the refrigerator is empty or the clock is too close to midnight (when internal moral alarms go off), complex carbohydrates and vegetables should come to your aid. Yes, even half a banana counts. Mango? Even better. Just leave the apple and pear for another time – they are more of a decoration than a solution to a specific hunger.
And if you're wondering why no one told you that a banana could be your sleep savior – well, now you know.
Hunger + sleep = bad combination
When you go to bed hungry, your body doesn't go into zen mode. On the contrary, it activates stress hormones like cortisol, which can wake you up in the middle of the night with the feeling that something is not quite right. Which is true – your energy balance.
Regularly lacking nutrients before bed can have even more profound consequences. Your body starts to conserve energy (which sounds ecological, but actually means a slowed metabolism), and instead of burning fat, it starts to suck energy from your muscles. Yes, those muscles you worked so hard to gain in the gym. Oops.
Let only your appetite for life be hungry, not your stomach.
In short: Dinner is not the enemy. More than that, it is your ally for quality sleep, a better mood and – if you choose it wisely – also an ally for your metabolism. And there will be no more late-night trips to the fridge.
So the next time you get a slight stomach ache before bed, don't pretend to be superhuman—instead, treat yourself to something light but nutritious. Your sleep (and nerves) will thank you.
