Nutritional Importance of the Timing of Your Last Meal of the Day

Hello Ziddis!

This time we are not gonna lecture you about what to eat and how to exercise. This blog is about knowing when to stop eating i.e. what should ideally be the time of your last meal of the day. When it comes to fitness goals, rest and meals should take the front seat in your plans. While it is important what you eat, it is also important to make sure your timing suits your choice of meal. Proper nutrition before bedtime can help muscle repair, growth and overall recovery. This is a pretext for you to wake up stronger and ready to take on the day.

Muscle Growth and Recovery

Muscle growth is not about pumping your muscles with a pull-and-push workout but making sure you are eating right and at the right time. Here are key nutritional strategies to maximize muscle growth with your last meal of the day:

What to Eat, How Much, and When

1. High-Quality Protein

• What to Eat: Whey Protein Shake, Greek Yogurt or Cottage Cheese
• How Much: 20-30 grams of protein
• When: 30-60 minutes before bed.

2. Complex Carbohydrates

• What to Eat: Oatmeal, Quinoa or Brown Rice
• How Much: Approximately 20 grams of carbohydrates.
• When: 2 hours before bed followed by a walk.

3. Healthy Fats

• What to Eat: Peanut Butter, Almonds or Walnuts
• How Much: Approximately 8 grams
• When: 30 minutes before bed- This can be eaten as a midnight snack.

Nighttime Protein can help in Muscle Recovery

What you eat before you rest for the night determines how your muscles recover from minor tears or injuries. A protein-rich meal before bed and a fistful of nutrients can help a lot in the recovery process. How is how:

1. Eating protein before bed helps muscle repair and growth.
2. Nighttime protein intake can help reduce muscle breakdown during the fasting period while you sleep.
3. Some nutrients have hormone-balancing powers like super seeds. So keep them near your bedside and munch on them before bedtime.

Muscle Building Supplements

Did you know muscle-building supplements are not just for your pre and post-workout? These supplements could be your bedtime buddies and help you get a rest that is productive for your muscles to grow, repair and recover themselves all while replenishing the body’s energy. But which supplements should you bet your money on?

• Whey Protein Powder: Whey protein is quick to absorb and packed with essential amino acids, which makes it a trusted pre-bedtime shake to support muscle recovery and growth.
• Casein Protein: Casein does not get digested quickly but because of it slow digestion it provides a steady release of amino acids throughout the night, which helps prevent muscle breakdown.
• Creatine: Creatine before bed is a good idea because it can relax your muscles for recovery and improve muscle mass over time.

Peanut Butter

Peanut butter is filled to the brim with healthy fats and protein This makes peanut butter a trusted choice for fitness enthusiasts be it to gain or lose. It supports the slow release of energy to keep you healthy overall. Not as high as whey but it has a good enough amount of protein. Peanut butter can be your bedside buddy for the midnight hunger pangs too. MuscleBlaze has a range of peanut butter you could get your hands on. 

Conclusion

The timing and content of your last meal of the day right before bed are important for muscle growth and recovery. Loading your plate with high-quality protein, healthy fats, and muscle-building supplements in adequate quantity by sticking to the right timing can be a life changer in the fitness world.  

Read Also: What Are Healthy Fats and Why They’re Not Your Enemy