06/13/2026
Your body has a lot going on while you sleep. It is repairing tissue, strengthening memories, clearing waste from the brain, and balancing hormones. A lot of important work happens in those hours.
When you eat a large meal within two to three hours of bedtime, you interrupt that process before it even starts. Digesting food keeps your body temperature higher than it needs to be, and your body needs to cool down before deep sleep can begin. Eating late also causes your blood sugar to rise, which suppresses melatonin (the hormone that signals it is time to sleep) and puts your body into an alert, active state right when it should be winding down.
Research consistently shows that leaving at least a two to three hour gap between your last meal and bedtime helps you fall asleep faster and spend more time in deep, restorative sleep.
If genuine hunger is keeping you awake, a small low-glycemic snack is completely fine. Low-glycemic foods are foods that raise your blood sugar slowly and gently rather than causing a spike. Good options include a small handful of almonds or walnuts, a few slices of turkey or chicken, a boiled egg, a small portion of plain Greek yogurt, or a few slices of apple with almond butter.
A full meal close to bedtime, though, is working against your sleep before you even close your eyes.
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