Eating sugary foods before bedtime is a common habit, whether it’s chocolate or a small dessert. However, recent research suggests that this simple pleasure may have an unexpected impact on sleep quality.
Scientific findings indicate that elevated blood glucose levels can influence the autonomic nervous system, which is responsible for balancing stress and relaxation, keeping the body in a semi-alert state even during rest.
Under normal conditions, the body maintains a balance between activation and recovery systems. However, sugar intake may disrupt this balance, maintaining a higher heart rate and increased physiological activity despite a feeling of calm.
Experiments show that participants who consumed glucose before relaxation sessions reported feeling calm, yet their bodies displayed higher levels of nervous system activity compared to those who did not consume sugar, revealing a disconnect between perception and physiology.
Sugar may also temporarily boost energy and cognitive performance, but this comes with increased physiological arousal, which is not ideal for deep relaxation or restful sleep.
Experts therefore recommend avoiding sugary foods before bedtime or relaxation practices such as meditation or massage, to allow the body to enter a true state of rest rather than a superficial sense of calm.
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