Weight loss is more than just what you put into your mouth. Getting a good or bad night’s sleep can affect your motivation, decision-making, and, ultimately, your weight loss goals. According to WebMD, people who don’t get enough sleep can easily make bad decisions for weight loss, like grabbing a donut rather than cooking up an egg or relying a bit too heavily on your favorite sugar-laden latte. They also note that a sleepy brain’s reward system is on full alert, so not grabbing that afternoon chocolate is going to be harder.
Eating an egg at night can help you get better sleep and keep your impulse control in check. Research published in Cell showed that bulking up on protein before shut-eye actually helped mice sleep better. The hypothesis behind this is that protein prevents arousal. As Stanford University professor Rafael Pelayo told New Scientist, “If you have some better-quality food, in this sense a protein-rich diet, then that would make you sleep deeper.” Melatonin, the hormone that helps you sleep, is also naturally found in the yolk of eggs, along with tryptophan, the amino acid in turkey that makes you sleepy. However, those with digestion issues might want to skip the yolk.