May 10, 2015
The desire to grab a snack from your pantry or head to your favorite 24-hour food spot like Darling's in Northern Liberties or Melrose Diner in South Philly could be your brain's fault.
A new study from Brigham Young University examined the brains of 15 healthy women, and found that the participants reported that they could eat more during the evening compared to the morning. They also said their thoughts were more preoccupied with food during the evening hours.
Not only that, but MRI scans of the participants' brains found lower stimulation to images of high-calorie foods during evening hours. The study's lead author Travis Masterson, a researcher at BYU, explained to The Huffington Post that this essentially means you need to eat more at night to quell your cravings:
"You might overconsume at night because food is not as rewarding, at least visually, at that time of day. You eat more to try to get satisfied."
The reason for food being less satisfying during later hours was not determined by the researchers. However, there are reasons to avoid those nighttime indulgences.
Some research suggests that eating when our bodies are supposed to be sleeping could disrupt learning and memory while getting a full meal in immediately before bedtime can mess with your digestion.
However, a small, healthy snack before hitting the hay can actually do you some good. Note: That doesn't mean a 2 a.m. trip to Pat's King of Steaks.
