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Doctor advises night owls to avoid carbs too close to bedtime for better health
Certain lifestyle changes could make a huge difference if you’re a night owl struggling to lead a healthy life due to your odd schedule.
Even though adequate sleep is essential for a sound mind and body, when you rest also matters. Shift workers are particularly at high risk of health issues as their internal clock, also known as Circadian rhythm, is affected by lifestyle habits.
3 tips for shift workers to stay healthy
Naturopathic doctor, Janine Bowring, explains three common and harmful habits of people who sleep very late or stay up most of the night.
She also explains that anybody who stays awake for more than 3 hours between 10 PM and 5 AM for at least 50 days a year is considered a shift worker, regardless of the reason for keeping them up. Whether your job requires you not to sleep at night or if you’re a natural night owl, following the doctor’s advice can be highly beneficial for your health.
1. Best time to eat
Night owls are infamous for midnight snacking and eating at odd hours. But, the doctor strictly advises eating only when the sun is up to “mimic the natural circadian rhythm.”
Avoid eating in your bed or a place with minimal lighting. She recommends only eating by the window when you can see the Sun.
2. What to eat at night
If you can’t avoid eating at night, watch what is included in your meals after sunset because eating too close to bedtime can disturb your sleep and cause issues like indigestion.
Dr. Janine recommends eating food high in protein and fats if you plan your meal after dark. Ensure you don’t consume a lot of carbohydrates as it spikes your blood glucose levels.
3. Cover your skin and eyes
Exposure to artificial light from phones, gadgets, and television is bad enough – studies show that harmful habit increases the risk of early mortality.
In addition to stopping using your smartphone three hours before bedtime, the doctor recommends covering your eyes and skin “to help decrease the glucose response.”
Dr. Janine Bowring is a Naturopathic doctor, best known for her presence on TikTok with over 983,000 followers. She has over 25 years of experience. She graduated from the University of Waterloo with a Bachelor of Science in 1994 and earned her Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine Degree from the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
