Your Late Night Snacking Isn't Doing Your Gut Any Favors, Study Finds
Gizmodo • • health
Key Points:
- New research suggests that eating late at night may worsen gut health, particularly for individuals experiencing chronic stress, increasing the likelihood of digestive issues such as constipation and diarrhea.
- The study analyzed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and the American Gut Project, finding that stressed individuals consuming at least 25% of their calories after 9 p.m. were significantly more prone to gastrointestinal problems and had less diverse gut microbiomes.
- While the findings indicate a correlation rather than causation and have yet to be peer-reviewed, they align with existing advice against late-night eating due to its negative effects on fat storage, sleep, and circadian rhythms.
- Lead researcher Harika Dadigiri emphasizes the importance of not just what, but when people eat, noting that timing combined with stress can deliver a "double hit" to gut health.
- The study encourages adopting structured meal routines and avoiding late-night snacks, especially for those with digestive issues, though small indulgences earlier in the day are considered acceptable.
