Lose weight fast by eating carbs at night rather than during the day, expert claims
IT'S a common belief that munching on anything carb-heavy in the evening can ruin an otherwise good diet.
However, one expert has finally debunked this myth - and claimed that eating carby foods after dark may actually speed up weight loss.
Leading fitness trainer and nutrition specialist Matt Hodges has revealed that eating dishes such as rice, pasta and bread before you go to bed can help you blitz more body fat when you wake up the next day.
And he has suggested that slimmers should even swap their breakfasts for dinners.
He told : "Eating carbs at night is more beneficial to fat loss.
"We know now that in the later stages of sleep our bodies become metabolically active and burn fat anyway, so the idea that you put on weight from a meal you ate close to bedtime while you’re sleeping is rubbish."
He also suggests a carb-rich meal at night could help muscles use glycogen, the fuel our muscles need, for exercise the next morning.
And dietitian Azmina Govindji emphasised that there is no evidence to show that eating carbs at night is bad for you.
The idea that you put on weight from a meal you ate close to bedtime while you’re sleeping is rubbish
Matt Hodges
She said: "It’s all about the overall calories you take in being less than the amount you’ve burned off."
And Azmina says there is now evidence to suggest that certain carbohydrates in the evening could aid a good night’s sleep.
Apparently carb-heavy foods help the body release chemicals such as tryptophan that aids in production of brain neurotransmitters that help calm calm our nerves and help us stay asleep.
She added: "Porridge oats cooked with skimmed milk just before bed is a great snack that is low in fat and high in nerve-calming B vitamins."
A 2011 study also revealed the extent to which eating carbs in the evening can speed up weight loss.
Israeli researchers tested the theory on 70 volunteers who they split up into two groups, one who ate their carbs during the day and the other who ate 80 per cent of them at night.
Within six months, the latter had lost more weight and body fat and experienced less hunger throughout the day.
And another study published in the Nutrition, Metabolism and Cardiovascular Disease Journal, showed the same results.
It’s now after 6pm. If you want carbohydrates and they fit your your goal and enjoyment, eat them
Graeme Tomlinson
It found that eating carbs at night “may prevent midday hunger, better support weight loss and improve metabolic outcomes over conventional weight loss diets”.
Graeme Tomlinson, an evidence based nutrition coach known as The Fitness Chef, admitted that this proves that the link between eating carbs at night and weight gain is a complete myth.
He added: "For years this ‘no carbs at night’ metabolic artifice has plagued us to the point where people trying to lose fat still believe in it’s validity.
"It’s concept was probably born out of the fact that our metabolism slows down as we may move less in evenings - and obviously sleep.
More on diet and weight loss
"But according to a study published by the obesity journal, a test group that ate most daily carbohydrates at dinner, compared to those who spread them out during the day actually showed greater losses in total body weight, body fat and waist circumference.
"This study is a small sample, but proof of this mythical fallacy.
"It’s now after 6pm. If you want carbohydrates and they fit your your goal and enjoyment, eat them."
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