As well as contributing to weight gain, a new study has suggested that snacking late at night could increase your risk of diabetes¹ and heart disease.

 

一项新研究显示，吃宵夜不但会让体重增加，还会增加患糖尿病和心脏病的风险。

 

Researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania found that eating late at night raises glucose² and insulin levels, both of which are causes of type 2 diabetes.

 

They also found evidence that poor timing³ of meals can also affect cholesterol⁴ levels which can increase the risk of heart disease or suffering a heart attack.

 

Namni Goel, lead author of the study, said: "Eating later can promote a negative profile of weight, energy and hormone⁵ markers - such as higher glucose and insulin, which are implicated⁶ in diabetes, and cholesterol and triglycerides, which are linked with cardiovascular problems and other health conditions."

 

This isn't the first time a study has suggested that late night snacking could be detrimental⁷ to your health. Here we round up five reasons why you should avoid eating late at night ...

 

1. It can affect your memory: According to American researchers, snacking late at night could negatively affect your memory. The study, from the University of California, found that eating at irregular hours - such as late at night - had the potential to impact cognitive⁸ functions.

 

2. It makes you have weird⁹ dreams: In 2015, a pair of Canadian psychologists investigated whether people's eating habits can have a negative effect on sleep patterns and dreaming.

 

3. It increases the risk of a heart attack: Experts have found that eating dinner after 7pm could increase the risk of suffering a heart attack. Researchers from Dokuz Eylül University assessed more than 700 adults with high blood pressure in order to find out whether different eating times made a difference to their health.

 

4. It creates acid reflux: According to experts, eating late at night (especially heavy foods) and going to sleep shortly after is a key contributor to acid reflux.

 

5. It makes you hungrier the next day: Eating late at night can have you feeling hungrier than usual when you wake up the next morning thanks to the insulin your pancreas releases after a meal.

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