Eating a banana at night is good for weight loss. Banana:
- has only a few calories
- can satisfy your sweet tooth
- controls hunger
- prevents late-night cravings for fattening food
- promotes a good night’s sleep
Eating a banana at night won’t make you fat
Eating a banana late at night won’t make you gain weight, as it’s low in calories. A small banana has only 90 calories. Even eating 2 bananas at night won’t make you fat, as they contain less than 200 calories.[1]
Actually, eating a banana before bed is good for you. It’s much healthier than other popular snacks.
A banana before bed prevents late-night snacking
Banana is a great late night snack because it’s a low-calorie, super filling food. A banana at night can keep us full for a couple of hours before going to bed. Banana is about 75% water, and it’s an excellent dietary source of fiber. A diet high in fiber reduces the risk of obesity.[2]
Fiber and protein promote satiety. As banana is low in protein, you could eat it with a protein-rich foods, such as Greek yogurt. Moreover, you can drink soy milk before bed. It also supports a good night’s sleep, and it’s good for weight loss.
Eat a banana at night as a healthy dessert
Additionally, you can eat a banana late at night, as a sweet snack or a dessert. Banana has almost no fat. On the contrary, banana is high in sugars. It can satisfy your sweet tooth before bed.
Moreover, you could drink a banana smoothie with other sugar-rich fruit juices. You can prepare a banana smoothie in no time. Save time by freezing bananas in bulk.
Avoid consuming sweets before bed if you want to lose weight. They can make you fat, as they’re particularly high in sugar, fat, and calories.
Can eating a banana at night make you fat?
Eating a banana before bed, as part of a well-balanced diet, won’t make you fat. We have to consume more calories than we burn to gain weight.
Eating fruits is good for weight loss. In fact, the American Heart Association recommends consuming at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables a day.[3]
However, you should avoid consuming dehydrated banana chips. They’re particularly high in sugar and calories. As a rule of thumb, you could eat a medium banana before bed.
Actually, fresh fruits, salads and popcorn are great late-night snacks.
Banana may increase serotonin levels
Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that may improve mood and sleep. Also, it’s good for weight loss, as it regulates appetite.
Bananas contain high amounts of tryptophan, along with other compounds that are necessary for the synthesis of serotonin. Hence, eating a banana at night might help you sleep better, improve mood, and control hunger.
Eating a banana before bed helps you sleep better at night
Banana contains decent amounts of melatonin. Melatonin is known as the sleep hormone. It’s the internal clock of the body. Eating foods high in melatonin before bed promotes a good night’s sleep.
Furthermore, melatonin has unique health benefits. For instance, melatonin boosts the immune system, has anti-cancer effects, and acts as a powerful anti-aging agent. It also supports weight loss.
In addition, banana is a good dietary source of magnesium, which relaxes the muscles. Magnesium may improve sleep onset latency, early morning awakening, snoring, and sleep duration!
Also, bananas have low amounts of many other minerals, which affect sleep, such as calcium, zinc, and iron!