When it comes to heart health, it can sure feel like you’ve heard it ALL.
Most of the advice seems to boil down to three things…
- Eat plenty of fresh organic veggies, wild-caught fish, and pastured meats
- Ditch highly processed foods, junk fats, and added sugar
- Get regular exercise at least five days a week
They’re all good recommendations. And to avoid a terrifying heart attack or stroke, I bet you give it the old college try.
But here’s the truth. You could be doing ALL of those things and still have your risk for a heart attack shoot right through the roof.
Because several times a week, you’re likely making this one small mistake.
And trust me… it’s NOT your fault. Because I’ll bet you dollars to doughnuts, no one has ever even warned you about it before.
I’m talking about avoiding eating during the “heart attack hours.”
That’s right. Changing WHEN you eat could send your risk for heart problems plummeting…
Adjust eating times to avoid “deadly dining”
The truth is even if you’re having a healthy dinner or a doctor-recommended heart-healthy snack, it could kill you.
Because recent research has revealed it’s not just what you eat… it’s when you eat too.
Folks in the groundbreaking study who ate their last meals before seven in the evening were just fine. But those who dined or snacked AFTER seven PM blew up their risk of a heart attack or stroke.
And it isn’t just heart attacks and strokes folks need to worry about. When the researchers ran tests on the late night eaters, they found they had higher than average blood pressure, blood glucose, and insulin levels.
Plus their cholesterol, triglycerides, and weight levels ballooned too.
Eating late messes with metabolism
So why does late-night snacking lead to such a massive health fallout?
Well, scientists say they don’t know for sure. But they have a strong suspicion it has to do with our sleep-wake cycle.
You see, when you eat or snack right before bed, your metabolism changes… for the worse.
So if you’re fond of rummaging in the fridge late at night it’s time to put an end to your midnight snacking. Here’s how…
5 easy ways to end your late night snacking
Experts now say your last meal or snack should be three to four hours BEFORE you go to sleep.
But let’s face it… most of us are creatures of habit. So if midnight grazing or late-night dining are regular habits, it can be tough to quit.
These five simple steps can make the transition a heck of a lot easier…
1. Eat breakfast:
Folks who skip breakfast tend to get slammed with more midnight cravings. And as a result, they do more late night eating. So start making breakfast a habit. Your heart will thank you.
2. Eat ENOUGH during the day:
Many folks save their big meal for late in the day. But when you cut back on eating throughout the day, a big meal can send your blood sugar skyrocketing and then crashing back down. And then it can be nearly impossible to resist the call of your refrigerator in the evening. So fill up earlier in the day and make dinner your LIGHTEST meal.
3. Eat foods that keep you full:
Two types of food are winners when it comes to feeling full. First is protein. A recent study showed that eating protein helps you feel satisfied for hours after a meal. The second is fiber. Fiber fills you up fast and keeps you full longer. So you don’t overeat and you’re less likely to snack. Load up on beans, veggies, and whole fruits.
4. Get enough sleep:
One of the biggest causes of late night snacking? Not enough sleep. When you’re sleep deprived, your hunger hormones go haywire. This leaves you feeling hungrier and lowers your ability to resist junk food and sweets. So be sure to shoot for around seven to eight hours of QUALITY shuteye a night.
5. Barricade the kitchen:
If you have a tendency to wander into your kitchen after dinner looking for cheap entertainment in your fridge or pantry, it’s time to block the door. Making the kitchen a no-go zone after dinner will make it a heck of a lot easier to put an end to late night snacking.
Take care of your heart and reduce your risk for problems by avoiding eating during the “heart attack hours” starting tonight.
She is an advocate of self-education and is passionate about the power of group knowledge sharing, like the kind found right here on HealthierTalk.com. Alice loves to share her views on holistic and natural healing as well as her, sometimes contentious, thoughts on the profit-driven inner workings of traditional medicine.
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