What happens when I eat a bunch of sugar and then go to bed?
February 13, 2011 5:22 AM Subscribe
Are there any nutritionists that can weigh in on what exactly occurs when I eat a bunch of sugar immediately before going to bed?
I like to go to the gym after work, but I don't get off work until midnight. When I get back from the gym I will make myself a smoothie consisting of a banana, a handful of strawberries, about a cup of milk, and a couple of scoops of protein powder. I'm estimating that this concoction consists of about 35 grams of sugar (10 for the banana, 11 for the strawberries, 12 for the milk, and 2 for the protein). I then eat a melatonin and pass right out.
Now, I know this blast of sugar is significant only because of what happens when I eat this smoothie during the day. I am typically a very light eater, but if I have one of these during the day, a couple of hours later I get ravenously hungry and will absolutely annihilate large amounts of food.
My question, though, is what is going on when I go to sleep instead of staying up for the next couple of hours to feel those hunger pangs? I assume that during the day my elevated glycogen levels have me eating more to give all that glycogen something to do, but if I'm asleep I can't really eat anything else. I don't wake up feeling hungry or full or otherwise any different than if I hadn't had all that sugar. Does all this sugar turn into fat? Does it help with the processing of all that protein (54g, far more significant calorie-wise than the other components)? Is any of this bad for me? If it is, what should I be doing instead?
I like to go to the gym after work, but I don't get off work until midnight. When I get back from the gym I will make myself a smoothie consisting of a banana, a handful of strawberries, about a cup of milk, and a couple of scoops of protein powder. I'm estimating that this concoction consists of about 35 grams of sugar (10 for the banana, 11 for the strawberries, 12 for the milk, and 2 for the protein). I then eat a melatonin and pass right out.
Now, I know this blast of sugar is significant only because of what happens when I eat this smoothie during the day. I am typically a very light eater, but if I have one of these during the day, a couple of hours later I get ravenously hungry and will absolutely annihilate large amounts of food.
My question, though, is what is going on when I go to sleep instead of staying up for the next couple of hours to feel those hunger pangs? I assume that during the day my elevated glycogen levels have me eating more to give all that glycogen something to do, but if I'm asleep I can't really eat anything else. I don't wake up feeling hungry or full or otherwise any different than if I hadn't had all that sugar. Does all this sugar turn into fat? Does it help with the processing of all that protein (54g, far more significant calorie-wise than the other components)? Is any of this bad for me? If it is, what should I be doing instead?
On a side note, I get ravenously hungry for a few hours after going to the gym. Have you ever tried eating this smoothie without going to the gym first?
posted by creasy boy at 5:53 AM on February 13, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by creasy boy at 5:53 AM on February 13, 2011 [1 favorite]
The smoothie is a 'gimme' as far as calories go, because your body continues to burn them after you are done with aerobic exercise. My trainer (powerlifting) said I could eat any carb I wanted and it would nix it out within 75 minutes. Certainly, all of the ingredients you take in in that smoothie are wonderful for sleeping, and also anytime during the day. A smoothie, made with yogurt, Myoplex, some type of berry, nutritional yeast sometimes and whatever else I could throw in there was a staple during heavy performance training. How much exercise are you doing? I'm basing mine on aerobic/weight training using up as much as 1800 cals/hr.
GJC is correct about the insulin levels peaking, and when the drop happens it makes you tired, however the caveat is this will help you sleep, not hinder.
The smoothie during the day can be tempered with a meat or tofu product or a blended complex carbohydrate such as brown rice and beans, cheese or other longer to digest food product. This will allow the blood sugar levels to decrease slower and not result in the *poof* you feel in the afternoon.
Keep in mind, you are not utilizing those calories as much when you sleep, hence your hunger pangs probably don't happen. If you otherwise awake refreshed and not weak, you are doing the right thing.
"Nutrition for Serious Athletes" by Dan Benerdot, PhD, RD was my Bible, look on page 179 for the timing of nutrients.
Keep it up! Nice to see another night owl trying to work around a tight schedule!
.
posted by ~Sushma~ at 6:30 AM on February 13, 2011
GJC is correct about the insulin levels peaking, and when the drop happens it makes you tired, however the caveat is this will help you sleep, not hinder.
The smoothie during the day can be tempered with a meat or tofu product or a blended complex carbohydrate such as brown rice and beans, cheese or other longer to digest food product. This will allow the blood sugar levels to decrease slower and not result in the *poof* you feel in the afternoon.
Keep in mind, you are not utilizing those calories as much when you sleep, hence your hunger pangs probably don't happen. If you otherwise awake refreshed and not weak, you are doing the right thing.
"Nutrition for Serious Athletes" by Dan Benerdot, PhD, RD was my Bible, look on page 179 for the timing of nutrients.
Keep it up! Nice to see another night owl trying to work around a tight schedule!
.
posted by ~Sushma~ at 6:30 AM on February 13, 2011
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You don't notice it when you are sleeping, but I bet you have trouble waking up in the morning.
posted by gjc at 5:41 AM on February 13, 2011