SUPERMARKETGURU FOOD &
HEALTH WEEKLY NEWSFLASH!
Are You Eating in Bed? You're NOT Alone!
Published on: September 12, 2006
Supermarkets are designed to meet consumer needs for breakfast, lunch, dinner and even in-between meals … but never have I seen a supermarket that caters to what some consider the "ultimate meal" – the bedtime snack.
It used to be a glass of warm milk; which actually has been proven to calm the nerves and make one sleepy. Milk contains tryptophan, and the calcium and magnesium in milk help enhance the conversion of tryptophan to serotonin – but today the assortment of foods found between the bed sheets is as varied as the assortment in the supermarket itself.
The general consensus in the medical community has long been that one of the most harmful eating habits is that of consuming food right before bed, a practice that is believed to cause weight gain, increase sluggish behavior, and even negatively affect the length and quality of sleep.
But no one seems to be listening!
A survey conducted among SupermarketGuru.com readers suggests that 75 percent of respondents "sometimes" consume food right before going to bed … though they seem to draw the line at actually eating in bed, with just 32 percent of those polled saying that they "actually bring meals and snacks to bed" with them.
And it could be for good reason. According to the National Sleep Foundation, 68% of American adults don't get the recommended eight hours of sleep needed for good health, safety, and optimum performance. And over 40 million people in the U.S. suffer from sleep disorders. It is believed that as the U.S. population continues to age, sleep disorders will increase in numbers. By 2050, it is estimated that over 100 million people will suffer from some form of sleep disorder.
The rise in over the counter and prescription sleep aids is significant: the New York Times reported in February of this year that the market for branded sleeping pills, reached about $2 billion last year. Projections are that sleeping pill sales will grow beyond $5 billion by 2010.
Seven out of ten SupermarketGuru users polled said that they eat a snack before bed, with almost half saying they have a drink … and a whopping nine percent said they sometimes will eat a full meal before hitting the sack.
It also appears that the SupermarketGuru community – normally a discerning and informed group – relax their nutrition brain muscles right before turning in for the night. Asked what kinds of foods they eat before bedtime, six percent said low-carb, and six percent said low-sodium, with 19 percent saying low-calorie foods and 34 percent saying fresh fruit. Compare that, though, to the 47 percent that said they have salty foods, 37 percent that eat sweets, 36 percent that eat frozen foods such as ice cream, 14 percent who eat high-carb foods, 14 percent that drink alcohol, 14 percent who eat high-protein products, 10 percent that eat spicy foods (never good for sleep), and nine percent that have caffeine. As consumers continue to have more stress and are working harder in their everyday lives, it appears that even a group that typically eats organic, reads labels and is concerned about how much fat and calories they consume want to reward themselves and indulge at the end of the day.
As for actually eating in bed – as opposed to just before bed – 20 percent of those polled said they eat in bed during the evening hours, compared to seven percent who do so at midnight, and the folks who seem to like breakfast in bed – four percent who eat in bed in the morning, and one percent who do at dawn.
And why do they eat in bed? One out of five says that it's because bed it is comfortable, five percent say it is convenient, four percent say they're lazy, and two percent say it is because the bed is just as good as a table. And once again, they're eating a wide range of foods in bed – salty snacks (19 percent), fruits (15 percent) sweets, (15 percent), frozen foods such as ice cream (14 percent), warm food (10 percent), caffeinated drinks (eight percent), spicy foods (eight percent), high protein foods (eight percent), low calories foods (eight percent), high carb products (six percent), low carb products (five percent), alcohol (four percent), and low sodium foods (four percent).
So how can you get a better night sleep?
Consider these foods that "soothe":
TURKEY
Turkey, like milk, contains tryptophan, an amino acid that converts to the slumber-promoting neurotransmitter serotonin. You can eat a turkey sandwich an hour before bedtime.
COMFORT FOODS
Snacking on the foods your mom used to make, for example mac and cheese, warm chocolate chip cookies or P&J sandwiches, will actually make you feel calmer and more relaxed due to the psychological impact of those food memories.
CARBOHYDRATES
Carbs cause blood sugar levels to rise which then prompts the pancreas to put out more insulin, and insulin in the bloodstream facilitates the entry of tryptophan into the brain. And just as in milk and turkey, the tryptophan is converted into sleep-boosting serotonin. Options obviously include oatmeal and cereals as well as vegetable soup, fruit salad, or a slice of low-fat cheese melted over whole-wheat bread one or two hours before bedtime.
As we Americans continue to lead longer and more stressful lives, there is little doubt that the need for better health and nutrition information prevails – and getting that good night's sleep will become even more critical.
