What Makes You Crave Food at Midnight

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It is that time of the year again when we all take a long hard look at ourselves and evaluate the experiences of the previous twelve months. From incredible highs to crushing lows, the year just gone by certainly had its fair share of drama and excitement for all of us. There were moments to be proud of and moments to forget. And now is the time to prepare those New Year resolutions and right the wrongs of the previous year.
Speaking of New Year resolutions, how many times have we started our lists with the proverbial weight loss goal? I, for one, have lost count of the number of times I have done so. And it can be said with reasonable certainty that many others may have too.

One of the major causes of this supposed inability to achieve our weight loss targets is those midnight food cravings that we all are guilty of having succumbed to often. Yes, those late night excursions to the kitchen and rummaging through the refrigerator are a bigger barrier in your weight loss journey than you might think. Suffice it to say that if you are to achieve that ideal body weight ever, then overcoming this particular obstacle once and for all will be a major step in the right direction.

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So, what causes those hunger pangs anyway? Why are these cravings so strong that you have to get out of bed in the middle of the night and tip-toe your way into the kitchen? Researchers attribute this to a number of reasons.

1- Anxiety and Stress
The idea that stress can cause your food intake to rise is not completely alien. Lots of stress tends to significantly increase your appetite for processed sugary and salty foods and you end up consuming more calories as a result. So, get a grip on that stress and learn to manage it effectively. Meditation and some exercise are always likely to help in such a scenario.

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2- Inadequate Sleep
When you do not get the minimum amount of sleep your body requires, it can cause more hunger pangs at odd times. Sleep impacts the hormone levels that regulate your hunger, therefore, inadequate sleep is likely to cause a disturbance in those hormone levels and resultantly mess with your hunger patterns.

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3- Inadequate Food Consumption During the Day
Often times you feel hungry when you go to bed because you have not consumed the right quantity and type of food during the day. If that is the case with you, then it might be time for some modification in your eating routines.

4- Reactions in Your Body Between Food and Medication
This primarily concerns those among you who are on multiple and/or chronic medication. If that is you, then those reactions between the food and medicines in your body may well be the reason you cannot get a good night’s sleep and give in to your late night food cravings.

5- Use of Tobacco
Too much use of tobacco can have an adverse effect on your sleeping pattern. In the same way, that cup of coffee just before bed may not be such a good idea (unless it is decaff). So, try to avoid intake of caffeine, nicotine, and tobacco after evening as much as possible. You never know which one of these guilty pleasures may be responsible for your irregular sleep.

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6- Mental Disorder(s)
Ever heard of the NBED (Night Time Binge Eating Disorder) or NES (Night Eating Disorder)? If eating at odd times during the night is a frequent occurrence with you, then you might just be suffering from these mental disorders. Irregular sleep and the stress and anxiety of everyday life can cause such a disorder.

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It goes without saying that these midnight food cravings can wreak tremendous havoc on your health and well-being in the long run. However, the good news is that they can be taken care of. Probably easier said than done, but it is by no means impossible. Start with the following simple tips.

1- Breakfast
Make sure to be done with breakfast within 90 minutes of waking up every morning. This will help regulate your blood sugar throughout the day.

2- Eat Regularly
Never starve yourself for long periods during the day. Grab some healthy snack if need be. Eat regularly and do not skip any meal. This is one of the most glaring mistakes that a lot of people make. Skipping a meal would not cause that belly fat to magically disappear, so eat regularly. Take smaller meals throughout the day if you do not want to have bigger meals, but do not go long without eating and maintain a consistent routine.

3- Slightly Late Dinner
A good way to avoid those late night hunger pangs is to have dinner at a somewhat later hour. This will shorten the time between your mealtime and bedtime, thereby reducing the chance of your going on a midnight snack binge.
These are simple but effective ways to deal with your late night food cravings. So, this year break down that weight loss goal into smaller and more actionable steps. Start with curbing these binge addictions. If you can get rid of them once and for all, it will be a big step towards achieving that ideal body weight.
So, let’s kick off this New Year with the war on late night food cravings. Until next time, Godspeed and so long sunshine!