The expert spoke about the dangers of eating sweets at night

The main reason why eating sweets at night is harmful is a sharp spike in blood sugar levels. Irina Lyalina, Acting Dean of the Faculty of Natural Sciences at the State University of Education, told Izvestia on March 29.

"When we eat fast carbohydrates before going to bed, glucose levels rise sharply and then fall, causing insulin spikes. This can eventually lead to insulin resistance, a condition in which cells respond less well to insulin and the risk of type 2 diabetes increases," she explained.

The body processes sugar more slowly at night, which increases the load on the pancreas. Excess sugar turns into fat, which increases the risk of obesity. In addition, sugar disrupts nighttime metabolism, which can worsen sleep, the expert emphasized.

"Foods that should not be eaten at night: sugary drinks (lemonade, juices, smoothies with lots of fruits), as they quickly increase blood sugar. Sweets, marmalade, caramel, chocolate due to the high concentration of sugar. Flour products (buns, biscuits, white bread) are banned at night, they also contain simple carbohydrates that cause glucose spikes. Fruits with a high glycemic index (bananas, grapes, dates, watermelons) They can also overload the pancreas," Lyalina said.

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Speaking about how to replace sweets at night, she noted: to avoid a sharp spike in sugar, you can eat healthy fats, for example, a handful of nuts — almonds, walnuts, cashews. It is also acceptable to eat natural sugar—free yogurt with cinnamon - cinnamon helps control blood sugar levels. You can try cottage cheese — it contains protein and calcium, and is also slow to digest, so it perfectly satisfies hunger. In addition, vegetables (cucumbers, celery, carrots) are useful — they are low in calories.

"If you really want something sweet, you can eat a piece of dark chocolate (70% cocoa and above) or drink warm water with cinnamon or tea with mint — this can reduce sugar cravings," the expert added.

Earlier, on January 29, Natia Chekhoeva, a gastroenterologist and endoscopist at the Gastro Clinic, told Izvestia that the systematic consumption of excess calories inevitably overloads the body. This not only increases body weight, but also puts a strain on internal organs, including the heart, liver, and pancreas.