Eating Snacks During Night Shifts Can Increase Alertness & Productivity

Those who work overnight should eat light snacks instead of a heavy meal to keep their body active and brain alert. 

According to a study published in the research journal ‘Nutrients’ done by the University of South Australia. They surveyed 44 people working in night shifts to study the impact of a heavy meal, light snack or no food at all on them. The results showed that people who either had a full-fledged meal or didn’t eat anything suffered fatigue, low energy, sleepiness, restlessness, headache, poor concentration, etc. Whereas those who ate snacks worked comfortably throughout the night.

“The findings show the strategic eating pattern on night shift may contribute to more alert and better-performing workers,” told researcher Charlotte Gupta.

As per the research reports, working in night hours affect the circadian clock of a person which directly impacts their focus and makes it difficult for them to stay awake. Also, it affects their metabolism and hence, they suffer a lot of health complications such as ulcer, obesity, gastrointestinal issues, etc.

Also Read: Eating Late Night Dinner Can Be Unhealthy: Here are Its Side Effects

Since people working in night shifts fail to get sufficient sleep, it affects their appetite and thus they suffer eating irregularity. Doctors say that those who do night shifts should eat light with only complex carbs and protein on the plate. Avoiding heavy meals late night would secure their health in many ways.

Also read: 5 Late-Night Habits that are Ruining Your Sleep

Neha Pathania, dietitian, Paras Hospital, Gurugram, said “the human body through thousands of years of evolution is programmed to sleep during the night and work during the day. While no food is a strict no-no, a heavy meal can slow the body's metabolism and signal the body to go to sleep. The best option, therefore, is light healthy snacks, including fruits and fluids,” she said. Changing lifestyle habits that slow down metabolism is the best thing to do.

If you work in night shifts then you are supposed to suffer irregularity in eating. You must not starve yourself for long hours. Instead, eat light and healthy snacks to fill your stomach without any health risk. Eating unhealthily especially during late hours would affect your entire body. Therefore, to maintain your productivity and stay focused at work, eat only snacks.

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