Jakarta (ANTARA) – Health experts warn that eating too much sweet food before bed has a number of bad effects on the body, one of which is the risk of chronic inflammation which is linked to a number of health conditions such as heart disease, obesity, cancer and diabetes.
“Sugar can cause inflammation in the tissue lining the mouth and throat, causing swelling and increasing mucus production,” said neurologist and sleep doctor Brandon R. Peters, MD, FAASM as quoted by Livestrong, Monday.
According to Peters, this condition can affect breathing, causing and worsening snoring sleep apnea. The Mayo Clinic notes that snoring and sleep disturbances may seem harmless, but they should be taken seriously.
Another bad impact of eating foods containing sugar before bed is that it keeps a person awake and causes hyperactivity. Peters says refined sugar raises blood sugar levels quickly, which can make it difficult to fall asleep.
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A study in the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine shows that a diet high in sugar is associated with poor sleep quality and duration.
Consuming sugar before bed can also affect a person’s weight. Excess sugar will be stored in fat cells, and if consumed excessively, it can cause fat cells to become larger.
While a person is awake, the body may be able to use sugar for energy. But in the evening when a person is not doing any physical activity, too much sugar intake can be a problem.
“When we eat sugar before bed, we don’t metabolize the sugar properly and it becomes inflammatory,” says registered dietitian Dana Ellis Hunnes PhD, RD.
He said, at night when a person sleeps, the body does not burn sugar and this tends to lead to fat storage and weight gain.
Health experts suggest people can avoid consuming sugar close to bedtime, for at least 2-3 hours to allow proper digestion.
“That said, an occasional sweet snack in the evening probably isn’t something you need to worry about,” says Peters.
