Stop Late Night Snacking for Better Health

While it can be tempting to snack on goodies at night, you are adding extra calories to your daily diet while risking indigestion and sleep problems that can cause you to eat more than before.

Snacking before you sleep makes it more difficult to get to sleep and sleep deprivation makes you feel hungry, creating a vicious cycle.

In fact, when you don't get enough sleep the hormone ghrelin is produced which results in drastically increased hunger.

To stop this cycle of negative activity, you need to stop eating before bed.

Consider these ways to cut your cravings for better sleep and improved health:

• take a relaxing bath instead of snacking at night;
• often people snack to keep their hands busy so find an alternative;
• read a magazine or book about fitness;
• try relaxing fitness routines that involve tai chi or yoga;
• make sure you eat 3 meals daily and 1-2 snacks so you don't have the desire to binge before bed;
• drink water in the evening to feel full;
• have a regular bedtime schedule, even on the weekend, so your body knows what to expect;
• avoid alcohol, nicotine and caffeine before sleep time.

By making a few simple lifestyle changes, you can enjoy better sleep, increased fitness and improved overall health.