While nibbling on chocolate Easter before your bedtime might be one of life’s simple pleasures, an expert has warned it could have some pretty unexpected side effects
Brits bracing to eat their body weight in chocolate Easter eggs have been warned of an unexpected side-effect you might want to avoid. Whether you’re splashing out on a fancy M&S Chocolate Croissant Egg – or keeping things simple with a classic Cadbury buttons egg, we Brits love Easter eggs – almost as much as our beloved cuppas.
It is thought a whopping 123 million Easter eggs will be gobbled down this year, with research suggesting from the age of 18 – the average adult gets through a whopping 165 Easter eggs over their lifetime (challenge accepted?!). Of course, eating mounds of chocolate is never going to get a nod of approval from your GP or dentist – but in moderation, a little sweet treat is fine for most.
Many of us are already mindful of the effect gorging on chocolate for an entire weekend can have on our waistline, but many don’t realise it can also impact our nighttime routine. But, sleep expert Adeel Ul-Haq over at Divan Beds warns chocolate eggs can be a huge disruption when it comes to getting some kip.
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In a statement sent to the Mirror, the ace said: “I’m not here to spoil the fun, but eating Easter Eggs after 5 pm can ruin your sleep, which is something that I bet most of us aren’t aware of.” The culprit? Caffeine and a stimulant called theobromine, which is a heart stimulator and a diuretic – meaning it’ll cause your heart rate to increase and can even make you urinate more.
“Caffeine, theobromine, and sugar are a perfect mix of ingredients if you want to stare at the ceiling all night,” Adeel explained. “They will cause you to feel wired rather than relaxed which is a recipe for disaster… Enjoy your eggs, but eat them earlier in the day.
Of course, this doesn’t mean that you need to throw your chunky KitKat Easter egg in the bin – and miss out on all the Easter fun. Adeel says it’s all about ‘timing’.
“Have your Easter Egg with a mid-morning cup of tea rather than reaching for it after dinner,” the pro advised. “This gives your body plenty of time to wind down and you will avoid tossing and turning all night.”
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Not all Easter eggs are equal when it comes to caffeine and theobromine content. For example, dark chocolate is by far the biggest offender – while white chocolate tends to be completely caffeine-free.
Milk chocolate contains less caffeine than dark chocolate but still enough, especially in large amounts to keep you awake. And of course, every kind of chocolate is likely to feature a lot of sugar – which can spike your blood sugar and interfere with sleep.
To curb the negative side-effect, try eating your chocolate eggs before 5pm. Remember, caffeine has a half-life of around four to five hours – so passing the 5pm cut-off may cut into your bedtime (especially for the little ones).
If you can’t resist having a bite of your egg before bed, Adeel recommends giving yourself a ‘little extra time to relax’. “Try reading a book or having a warm bath and you can even try some light stretching to ease both your mind and body into sleeping,” the expert added. “Most importantly, don’t stress, eating an Easter Egg late at night will make it harder to fall asleep but staying calm and relaxed will help you to drift off naturally in the end.”
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