Its midnight and you’re studying the inside of the refrigerator, trying to pick out a snack so that you can get back to sleep. The light from the fridge is too bright; it’s the third night in the row this has happened, and you can’t quite put your finger on why you keep waking up hungry. If you’ve ever experienced late night food cravings like this scene, there are several different reasons you might be waking up hungry.
What’s Causing My Cravings?
Everyone wants to get a good night’s sleep, but sometimes cravings might interfere. These are some of the common reasons why:
- Stress: Stress can greatly enhance your desire to consume food. A stretching routine, meditation or other exercises can help you reduce stress and get the rest you need.
- Hunger: Is hunger catching up with you at bedtime? Try keeping a food diary to check and see if, in fact, you do consume little during the day. You might need to make a change to your eating schedule.
- Food-Medication Interactions: If you’re taking multiple medications, interactions could be keeping you up at night. Some mental health medicines should be taken with regard to food, supplements and even citrus juices to maximize the effects of the dosage.
- Sleep: Not getting enough sleep can also lead to cravings because of the way that it influences your hormone levels, which regulate hunger.
- Tobacco Use: Nicotine use or caffeine right before bed can affect your ability to get sleep. Sensitivity may vary, but it could be the last couple of cigarettes in the evening that are keeping you from getting sleep.
- Disease and Emotion: Sleep disorders and generalized anxiety can alter sleep and lead to fatigue. There’s also the possibility if you are eating in the middle of the night and unaware of this behavior that you’re experiencing Night Time Binge Eating Disorder (NBED) or Night Eating Syndrome (NES).
Get More Information about Night Cravings
If you’re experiencing nightly food cravings, you may need to speak with your doctor about the reasons why – especially if you think you may be experiencing a sleep disorder or that they problem could be due to medications you are taking. To learn more about “Late Night Food Cravings,” please click here to read the full article from Your Weight Matters Magazine!
A subscription to Your Weight Matters Magazine is a free membership benefit when you join the Obesity Action Coalition (OAC) as a member. The OAC created the Your Weight Matters Campaign to provide free health resources for individuals like you, and the magazine is one of the most sought-after educational resources. To join now and benefit from this educational magazine every quarter, please click here!
