What happens if you eat sweets at night?

The main reason why eating sweets at night is harmful is a sharp spike in blood sugar levels.

As BAKU.WS reports, Irina Lyalina, the acting dean of the Faculty of Natural Sciences at the State University of Education, told "Izvestia" about this.

"When we eat fast carbohydrates before bed, glucose levels rise sharply and then fall, causing insulin spikes. Over time, this can lead to insulin resistance - a condition where cells respond poorly to insulin and the risk of type 2 diabetes increases," she explained.

The body processes sugar more slowly at night, which increases the load on the pancreas. Excess sugar turns into fat, increasing the risk of obesity. In addition, sugar disrupts nighttime metabolism, which can worsen sleep, the expert emphasized.

"Products that should not be eaten at night: sweet drinks (soda, juices, smoothies with lots of fruits), as they quickly raise blood sugar. Candies, marmalade, caramel, chocolate due to high sugar concentration. Pastries (buns, cookies, white bread) are also prohibited at night, they also contain simple carbohydrates that cause glucose spikes. Fruits with a high glycemic index (bananas, grapes, dates, watermelons) can also overload the pancreas," Lyalina specified.

Speaking about what to replace sweets with at night, she noted: to avoid a sharp spike in sugar, you can eat healthy fats, for example, a handful of nuts - almonds, walnuts, cashews. It is also acceptable to consume natural yogurt without sugar with cinnamon - cinnamon helps control blood sugar levels. You can try cottage cheese - it contains protein and calcium, and is also slowly digested, so it perfectly satisfies hunger. Additionally, vegetables (cucumbers, celery, carrots) are beneficial - they are low in calories.

"If you really want something sweet, you can eat a piece of dark chocolate (70% cocoa and higher) or drink warm water with cinnamon or mint tea - this can reduce the craving for sugar," the expert added.