Diet tips for late night shift workers
You have read dieting tips for diabetic patients, and plans for pregnant women, diet program for kids and even elders. But if you are one of the persons who is again stuck up with late night shift then this article will help you much to rebuild your energy. People who work on night shifts have common health problem and it is more likely that they loose their health faster than day time workers. Long hours of continuous work with tight work schedule can bring down their health tremendously by burning all the stored up energy.
It has been found that night shift workers carry several health disorders like gastric ulcers and other gastro intestinal disturbances, increased rate of heart diseases, sleep disorders and even mild psychiatric problems. In case they already have previous history of epilepsy or any other heart disease working for long hours during night triggers their illness and make them more prone to several health disorders associated with it. Many youngsters still find it difficult to cope up with night shift work. It is true they have to compromise their health and lifestyle conditions for adapting their life for working on night shift.
It is difficult to change your inbuilt characters but you can very well change your lifestyle for building good health and following balanced diet. You should have dinner at the most by 8 pm daily before beginning your shift. Many people avoid taking dinner while going to night shift since they have a misconception that taking dinner makes them sleepy. I didn’t mean to say you should have a hefty dinner, but never leave your stomach empty when going to work. Include rice with vegetables, cereals with milk which does not add more calories to your diet. Add more of fruits and raw vegetables in your dinner.
If you feel hungry at night you can carry some nuts and biscuits with you for crunching. Make a dry snack using peanuts, almonds, roasted flaxseeds, walnuts, raisins, roasted corn and any other favorite nuts. You can comfortably eat them when you feel hungry in the midnight or even early morning. Take lot of fluids when you stay awake. Do not include starchy food in your diet if you are working late night.
Have a glass full of lukewarm water before taking food which improves your digestion by lubricating the intestinal muscles, more particular at night. Do not take more than 2 cups of coffee or tea during night, since it may cause acidity, gas or bloated sensation. You have to restrict the amount of coffee to be consumed daily.
More important, avoid eating fried foods during night such as fried cutlets or fried bread. Reduce the intake of white bread, sugary foods and oily items from your menu. Such foods tend to increase the cholesterol level when they are taken at night and in specific when you have a stressful work at your office. When you get back home, drink a cup of milk with nuts or high fiber biscuits before going to sleep.