Late Night Snacking Can Harm Your Skin. Here's What to Eat to Curb Those Midnight Hunger Pangs

While snacking is greatly encouraged to get an instant energy fix, when done wrong it can wreak havoc on your health. A recent study warns people of the ill-effects of midnight snacking. Want radiant, glowing skin? It has been a wishful desire of many. Experts at the University of Texas suggest that your meal timings may also influence the health of your skin. According to a latest study, those who were found to indulge in midnight snacking or untimely eating were more prone to skin ageing, skin damage and even skin cancer. The study was published in the journal Cell Reports and examined mice module. It was found that the group of mice that were given food at untimely hours exhibited more damage to their skin when exposed to ultraviolet rays.

"It is likely that if you have a normal eating schedule, then you will be better protected from UV during the daytime. If you have an abnormal eating schedule, it could cause a harmful shift in your skin clock, like it did in the mouse," noted Joseph S. Takahashi, Chairman of Neuroscience at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.

What you eat has a direct correlation to your health, skin and hair. If you are one of those who gets hungry every now and then and can't help snacking, switching to healthier alternatives will benefit you as well as your skin. Eat breakfast like a king so that you are fueled enough to stretch yourself till lunch-time. Keep items like nuts, seeds, fruits, dry fruits and yogurt handy to snack on whenever untimely hunger pangs strike. In case you still feel hungry during the late, wee hours of the day, snacking on the following items will satiate your hunger, ensure weight management and optimum health.

A boiled egg: It is one of the most qualitative sources of protein. It is safe to have a boiled egg - minus the yolk - as a bedtime or a midnight snack.

Milk: "It is best to end your day with a glass of warm milk. Milk is a complete meal that will fill you up and also helps you get good sleep," notes Tapasya Mundhra, a Delhi-based nutritionist. Milk is a complete meal in itself, once you have it before turning in, be sure that you won't experience any more hunger pangs.

Fruits: Apples, avocados and pineapples can be had in small quantities.

Nuts: Seeds, dry fruits and nuts - just a handful of these will be enough to give your day a flavourful end and also satiate your hunger. Polyphenols and antioxidants in them also promise good skin.

Inputs from IANS