MELATONIN & LATE NIGHT SNACKING

[Skyrider]

I am currently taking Melatonin (2 mg, prolonged-release) to help with sleep issues. This has to be taken 1 - 2 hours before sleep, with a meal in order to achieve the prolonged-release effect.

I am therefore eating some Greek yoghurt with a small banana around this time. I'm aware that late snacking is not ideal for various reasons, including blood glucose control, but I don't have much choice.

Is this small snack likely to be a significant issue?

Also, I'm aware that Melatonin suppresses insulin production, so would it be better to leave a gap between eating the snack & taking the Melatonin?

 

[TheSecretCarbAddict]

If you have to have a snack and want to minimise the impact of the snack on your blood glucose levels, I'd modify it to swap tropical fruit like banana for berries. You can have these either fresh or frozen. I prefer frozen as this turns my yoghurt experience into frozen yoghurt experience. If you want, you can add other enhancements like vanilla essence and/or artificial sweetener like erythrol. Also, I go for a full fat version of Greek yoghurt as full fat versions of dairy products are generally lower in carbs.

 

[Skyrider]

If you have to have a snack and want to minimise the impact of the snack on your blood glucose levels, I'd modify it to swap tropical fruit like banana for berries. You can have these either fresh or frozen. I prefer frozen as this turns my yoghurt experience into frozen yoghurt experience. If you want, you can add other enhancements like vanilla essence and/or artificial sweetener like erythrol. Also, I go for a full fat version of Greek yoghurt as full fat versions of dairy products are generally lower in carbs.

Thanks Ian, that sounds like a good swop. I also go for full fat yoghurt, one with higher levels of protein.

 

[lovinglife]

I have heard that if you eat 2 egg whites, it will help burn 200 grams of fat because it helps the production of melatonin. I want to try it.

Very curious about this @rubyparkfj - do you have a link to this information? I can’t imagine it working

 

[KennyA]

I have heard that if you eat 2 egg whites, it will help burn 200 grams of fat because it helps the production of melatonin. I want to try it.

Eggs have (so I understand) melatonin . Egg white is mainly protein, isn't it? Where did you hear this?

 

[Skyrider]

I have heard that if you eat 2 egg whites, it will help burn 200 grams of fat because it helps the production of melatonin. I want to try it.

Interesting. Eggs contain both tryptophan & melatonin & I have heard of people eating these at bedtime to help with sleep. I eat them for breakfast every day, but not at night.

Regarding the fat burning: is this just because it takes more energy to digest protein, or is it something which is specific to eggs?

 

[ianf0ster]

In my opinion (and in my experience) if you want to burn fat then the simplest way is to reduce Insulin (and requirement for insulin) by eating low carb/keto. For a Type 2 like the OP, I strongly doubt that eating egg white (or any other added food) will make a noticeable difference to the insulin produced unless carbs are also reduced. Obviously for T1 and LADA it is all about finding a good balance between carbs ingested and insulin taken.

 

[Munkki]

Years ago someone told me about foods that use more calories for their digestion than they contain. Those foods were rabbits and some types of fish. I later read that this isn't really what happens. These foods, and I don't know whether this is the case for egg whites too, contain large amounts of protein and very little to no fat pr carbohydrates. So, in a survival situation, if you only have those foods available, it's better not to eat them, as they can lead to protein poisoning.