If you tend to gym it in the evenings and then have your evening meal when you come home, this will be of interest.
Although protein is recommended after exercise in order to refuel and help muscle recovery, the time you’re eating it is actually very important.
If you want a good night’s sleep, step away from the protein-packed foods before going to bed.
The advice comes from a Harvard-trained doctor, Dr Nada Milosavljevic, and we’ll assume she knows her stuff.
So, what’s the reasoning behind her advice?
Protein-rich foods take time to digest and if you’re feeling full, it’s going to take you longer to process.
Speaking to Brit & Co, Dr. Milosavljevic explained the process in full.
“Let’s say you eat a high-protein food before sleep. It takes a lot of digestive power to break down that food, and your digestive juices are activated.
“Your GI tract requires energy and is fully engaged in the process, which requires blood flow to be directed to that part of the body”.
Obviously, this is different for everyone as no one person has the same bedtime but as a general rule of thumb, stay away from the protein shakes/meat heavy/egg-centred food options right before you head to bed.
