A healthy snack is the best way to satisfy evening hunger and provide the body with the necessary elements that will help the body to restore strength better during the night. Is it possible to eat cottage cheese before going to bed?
This late snack has its own benefits that you need to know about.
A healthy snack before going to bed is a good habit, but it is easy to spoil it. A piece of cheese and a handful of nuts is a healthy and nutritious snack, a whole package of cheese crackers is not. Eating before going to bed can serve several purposes, both good and not so good. Some people find it easier to fall asleep on a full stomach. But the key to a successful late healthy snack is to make it simple and clean.
The protein is your friend
A diet with sufficient protein content is one of the best ways to keep your body healthy and strong. As you know, protein consists of amino acids, which are usually called the building blocks of our body — they can be combined, broken down and recombined in an almost infinite variety of configurations, depending on how your body needs to use them.
Amino acids are used not only for building muscle mass, but also for the growth of bones, cartilage, hair, nails and skin. Protein is used to create enzymes that digest food, carry oxygen through the bloodstream and help regulate hormones, as well as build and repair tissues.
Another advantage of protein, especially useful at night, is that it takes longer to digest than carbohydrates. This means that you will feel full for longer than if you ended your day with a donut or chips.
Myths about late snacks
Snacking before bed have gained a bad reputation because some people believe that your body does not burn calories while sleeping. This is not true. Your metabolism may slow down a bit during sleep, but your body is still working on tissue repair, and your metabolic functions, such as breathing and blood circulation, are certainly still working.
Another popular is that everything you eat at a certain time of the day inevitably turns into fat. In fact, you gain weight if the total number of calories you consume exceeds the number of calories you burn. If you consume fewer calories than you burn, you will lose weight. Of course, the ratio of fats, proteins and carbohydrates in your diet also matters, but it is not so important what time of day you eat.
Someone thinks that it is good not to have a snack before going to bed, because the more you move after eating, the more calories you burn. But this is not quite true. Your subcutaneous fat is not lost and is not gained every hour. These changes occur over days, weeks, and even months. And this is the main difficulty in losing weight: success requires thinking for the long term, while too many people want quick results.
Why cottage cheese is a great choice
Choosing cottage cheese as a health snack before going to bed makes sense for a number of reasons: from protein and nutrients to creaminess and fresh taste. So, researchers from the University of Florida found that people who eat at least 30 grams of protein for 30 minutes to an hour before bedtime have a better metabolism, muscle quality and overall health than people who did not do it.
Moreover, the study participants who ate cottage cheese before going to bed received all these benefits, but did not gain weight. Another study published in the British Journal of Nutrition used regular food, rather than just protein powders or other supplements, which makes it more relevant for real life.
In addition, cottage cheese practically does not require cooking, it is well stored in the refrigerator and is even sold in containers for one serving or with already added fruits. It is also relatively inexpensive, and you can choose the percentage of fat content that you like and fits better into your macros.
Cottage cheese is always easy
There are many different ways to enjoy cottage cheese, regardless of whether you prefer it cold or hot, salty or sweet. The easiest way is to take a spoon and just start eating. Add a little salt or pepper to emphasize its natural creamy taste. Any fruits and berries are well combined with cottage cheese. A little sweetness will give it honey and maple syrup. You can also add a little cinnamon to enhance the taste.