3 am hunger

wriglucy

So, I don't know why, but I have not been sleeping good lately, is there a full moon or something? Anyways, I notice that if I'm awake at like 3 in the morning, I sometimes feel hungry. Should I get up and eat something? Or just try to fall back to sleep and wait until breakfast? It's not the "I"M STARVING" hunger...just a little.

wriglucy

So, I don't know why, but I have not been sleeping good lately, is there a full moon or something? Anyways, I notice that if I'm awake at like 3 in the morning, I sometimes feel hungry. Should I get up and eat something? Or just try to fall back to sleep and wait until breakfast? It's not the "I"M STARVING" hunger...just a little.

ChubbyBunny

Hmmm, that is a good question.
I would try to hold out, but worse case....get up and have a cup of lowfat milk/light soymilk or something. OR I would try that right before bed.

shorerider

I recommend going back to sleep. Your body goes through a rhythm during the night that usually hits about 3:00am that is probably causing this--I know about it because this cycle causes problems for diabetics, such as myself, so I have to eat a snack just before bed or I have high blood sugar in the mornings.

Here's more about it--while this is directed specifically at diabetics, it does explain the cycle that EVERYONE goes through during the night.


"Between 3:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m., your body starts to increase the amounts of counterregulatory hormones (Growth hormone, cortisol and catecholamines). These hormones work against insulin's action to drop blood sugars. The increased release of these counterregulatory hormones results in an increase in blood sugars. "

This increase in blood sugar could be causing your hunger. Try having a very light snack about 1/2 hour before sleeping--I always eat 1 graham cracker with 1/2 tablespoon of peanut butter--GOOOODDD!

wriglucy

Good advice! thanks!