Is it bad for you to eat 4 hours before you sleep, and if so, how?

Question

my mom always tells me this but i dont know how true it is.

Answer 1

If theres a 4 hour gap between eating and sleeping, that's not bad. If you lay down immediately after eating the food in the stomach pushes up against the cardiac sphincter muscle (at the top of the stomach) and can cause it to stretch and that would let the stomach acid leak into the esophagus and it would burn (which is acid reflux disease or GERD). It also depends on whether or not you're having caffeine (pop or tea) with dinner. Caffeine can stay in your system for 5 hours and will affect your sleep (you can still fall asleep but you arouse much more easily and can make your sleep less effective).

Answer 2

It is better to eat several hours before bed because once you go to sleep, the digestive process slows down significantly and that lead to indigestion and acid reflux (heartburn). Eating soon before bed can also reduce the quality of your sleep so the next day you will feel tired and sluggish. Contrary to popular belief, there is NO proof that eating late will result in weight gain, as long as you're not consuming too many calories overall throughout the day.

Answer 3

no that is better most americans eat way to much right before bed, it is best to eat i would say 4-6 hours befor sleeping. gives your body time to metabolize and burn up most of the calories. so tell your mom that a guy on yahoo answers says it is good lol. no but really it is healthier.

Answer 4

lol i eat when i feel like it and have been doing so for years even right befor bedtime.