Experts Say There's No Need To Wait To Go To Sleep After Eating

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Experts say there’s no need to wait to go to sleep after eating

20th October 2019

11:17am BST

Olivia Hayes

It was always recommended that you should leave around two hours between eating your last meal and going to bed.

But it seems like it actually doesn't make much of a difference to your wellbeing. A new study from the Graduate School of Health Sciences at Okayama University in Japan seems to have debunked those claims saying that it is unlikely to spike your blood glucose levels. The study, which was published in the journal BMJ Nutrition, Prevention and Health, researched more then 1,500 middle aged individuals who had no underlying health conditions. The scientists assessed the individuals' eating regimes throughout a two-year period and took into account their weight, how fast they eat, how much physical activity take partake in and whether they smoke. A small group of the participants went to bed within two hours of eating dinner. After assessing the outcomes, the researchers found that there was little or no difference in the HbA1c (blood glucose levels). Instead, it was physical activity, alcohol consumption and blood pressure that took a worse impact on HbA1c levels. The study states:

“Contrary to general belief, ensuring a short interval between the last meal of the day and bedtime did not significantly affect HbA1c levels. “More attention should be paid to healthy portions and food components, getting adequate sleep and avoiding smoking, alcohol consumption, and overweight, as these variables had a more profound influence on the metabolic process.”

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