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Coffee is the classic pick-me-up. No wonder many experts advise against drinking coffee in the evening. But does this recommendation really make sense?

Does coffee cause sleepless nights?

For many people, a cup of coffee in the morning is a perfect way to start the day. No wonder, after all, a freshly brewed coffee simply tastes delicious and is also considered a practical pick-me-up. Many connoisseurs also like to drink coffee in the afternoon to overcome the midday slump or as a supplement to cakes and biscuits. However, many people refuse coffee in the evening, because everyone knows the warning that you cannot sleep well after a coffee.

Some coffee drinkers have experienced themselves that after drinking coffee they were practically insomniac and lay awake for a long time. Nevertheless, there are always people who can sleep well after a coffee and do not feel any effect. So why is it that coffee has such different effects? And is the myth that coffee makes you sleepless in the evening really true?

Caffeine – the pick-me-up in coffee

Caffeine is part of the coffee bean. Depending on the type of coffee bean, the coffee contains more or less caffeine. For example, the two most popular coffee beans, Arabica and Robusta, differ significantly in their caffeine content. While the Arabica bean, with a caffeine content of 1.1 to 1.7%, is considered gentle on the heart, the Robusta is a real pick-me-up. Here the caffeine content is between 2 and 4.5%. Extracted caffeine is a white powder that tastes bitter but is completely odorless. Thus, the caffeine content, along with numerous other aromas, contributes to the typical taste of the coffee.
Why the coffee bean contains caffeine is controversial. It is often assumed that it is a natural protection against eating, after all, a raw coffee bean tastes quite bitter. Thus, animals or insects avoid the coffee bean. Chemically, caffeine is an alkaloid, i.e. an organic compound. Caffeine affects both the human and the animal organism. Due to the stimulating effect, the pick-me-up belongs to the group of stimulants. Caffeine is not only found in coffee, it is also found in smaller doses in cocoa, tea and guarana. Energy drinks and cola also rely on the stimulating caffeine. However, coffee is still the classic pick-me-up.

Caffeine acts as a stimulant

Caffeine has a noticeable effect on the body. We ourselves usually notice it from a faster heart rate and increased blood pressure. The blood vessels in the body dilate, but in the brain they constrict. The central nervous system and the entire metabolism are also stimulated by the stimulant caffeine. As a result, we are more awake, active and focused. Since everyone has an individual caffeine tolerance, an overdose can quickly occur. Then the body reacts with headaches or nervousness and the positive effects turn negative.

The rumor still persists that strong, bitter coffee has a higher caffeine content than a mild beverage. However, this is not the case as the method of preparation does not affect the caffeine content. Only the caffeine contained in the coffee powder influences the stimulant factor of the coffee. Since different coffee specialties are prepared with a different amount of powder, this is the reason for the different caffeine content.

A coffee in the evening?

Coffee is indeed a stimulant. This effect only sets in after half an hour, because then the caffeine has arrived in the bloodstream. It takes the body about five hours for the body to break down half of the caffeine. So it’s no wonder that late coffee has an impact on the quality of sleep. In fact, the stimulant even influences the body’s biorhythm. The natural need for sleep is shifted backwards and can thus permanently disrupt the natural rhythm. If you want to prevent this effect, you should stop drinking coffee – or drink decaffeinated coffee – five hours before you want to fall asleep.

By the way, there are people who can sleep perfectly even after drinking coffee. It has not yet been researched why these people react little or not at all to the caffeine. So, try the effect caffeine has on your body.

Apparently, dinner canceling is supposed to help you age more slowly and stay fit longer. But there are also less radical methods than evening fasting.

There should be about 14 hours between the last meal and breakfast.
So you have your last meal of the day around four or five o’clock in the afternoon.
Instead, drink plenty of herbal tea or mineral water in the evening. The drinks also help you get over hunger, but contain no calories.
Dinner canceling proponents promise it keeps you young and fit. The fact that you may also lose weight is more of a side effect, but not the primary goal.

So dinner canceling is a nutritional method and not a diet in the traditional sense, where certain foods are on the ban list or you have to count calories. You can eat whatever you like between breakfast and late afternoon – only dinner is cancelled.

Dinner canceling is said to activate anti-aging hormones

Dinner canceling is intended to promote the body’s own mechanisms to regenerate overnight.

At night, the body returns many functions to a resting state.
When it is dark, the body releases more of the hormone melatonin. It controls the sleep-wake cycle.
In addition, the body produces more of the growth hormone somatropin at night. The hormone empties fat stores and builds muscle mass. Among other things, it supports the immune system and ensures firm skin.
Researchers see a connection to the aging process in the hormones somatropin and melatonin: the body produces fewer and fewer of these hormones with increasing age. On the other hand, if the body receives fewer nutrients at night, it responds by producing more somatropin. Dinner canceling is intended to stimulate the body to release more somatropin – which is supposed to have a “rejuvenating” effect.

Stiftung Warentest reports that so far there have only been tests in the test laboratory. In some of the animals examined, such as fruit flies, the researchers found a 50 percent longer life expectancy. It is not yet clear whether this can also be the case in humans.

Dinner canceling “light”

However, skipping dinner can also have some negative side effects. The body goes into hypoglycaemia and the body temperature drops. The metabolism can react very differently to this short-term fasting:

You could get circulatory problems or headaches (tip: fight headaches naturally).
You may not be able to sleep due to cravings.
Proponents of dinner canceling often advise compromises:

Only skip dinner once or twice a week.
Instead of around 4 p.m. in the afternoon, you can have your last meal of the day around 6 p.m.
This version of dinner canceling might make doing without something easier.

Light dinner instead of dinner canceling

Whether you try dinner canceling or not – you should definitely be aware of what else you usually nibble on the couch in the evening. You should generally avoid carbohydrates, such as in white flour and sugar, in the evening. The stomach takes longer to digest these foods.

Sausage or meat are also heavier in the stomach, especially if they contain a lot of fat. By the way: fruit also contains sugar that the stomach needs longer to digest: i.e. fruit sugar, i.e. fructose. You should also avoid eating raw vegetables and salads in the evening, as they put a strain on the stomach. A light, healthy dinner that is easy for you to digest is better.

Important Warning: Dinner Canceling is not suitable if you have an eating disorder, are pregnant or have an advanced chronic disease. In this case, seek medical advice.

The tactic is common among people trying to lose weight: starve during the day and eat at night. Not a good idea, says nutritionist Holger Klemm. He reveals how to do it better and how to ensure that the “candy tsunami” doesn’t even roll in the evening.

Starvation diet has the opposite effect

At the latest with this tip, most people who want to lose weight rebel. They torment themselves with a meager fasting diet during the day and then hear from me that their metabolism would actually be really happy if it got a little more food. Instead, the starvation diet that many are struggling with conveys a very different message. With this behavior they put their bodies on the alert and signal: There is a shortage of food!

The metabolism is drastically slowed down and fat burning slows down. A rude awakening in the evening when the body finally gets energy supplies: practically every calorie consumed ends up in the fat depot.

How Many Meals Should You Eat Daily? There are many different recommendations: three, five or eight? Several smaller meals are better because you’re less hungry throughout the day. The blood sugar level remains constant – and the choice of food is simply more varied. My tip: Eat a low-carbohydrate diet with high-quality protein and healthy fats. Five meals a day are ideal – provided you exercise regularly.

Five meals

Five meals every three hours show the body that it is getting energy on a regular basis. So there is no pressing reason for him to store fat. This regularity also brings structure back to our eating habits. Breakfast, lunch and dinner, with two snacks in between. Eat every three hours, even if you don’t feel directly hungry. After some time, your metabolism will automatically become more active and adjust to your new rate.

Avoid cravings

Regular small meals not only boost your metabolism, but also avoid the infamous food cravings. Hypoglycaemia and thus an uncontrolled “candy tsunami” in the evening is unlikely if you eat regularly. The blood sugar level remains relatively constant and the fattening hormone insulin is put in its place. Due to the more frequent meals during the day, it is necessary that you make the main meals smaller than usual so that your total energy intake does not exceed the required level.

The conclusion

Conclusion: Starving during the day to be able to eat what you want for dinner is not a good idea and can lead to health problems and obesity. The body senses some kind of threat and switches over because it doesn’t get enough energy during the day. Especially during the day, when we have to be efficient, we need high-quality nutrients and vital substances from food. My tip: Eat regularly and in moderation – not in bulk – and you will gradually become slimmer. Guaranteed!

There is a large selection of elegant evening dresses. How should a woman decide? When it’s time for special occasions and celebrations again, we benefit from the numerous evening wear for women. So that the decision is not difficult, we have tips for different body types in women.

Today, women can wear pretty much any shape and color. And that’s just as well. Women are spoiled for choice. The great variety makes it difficult to choose the right evening wear. So you can eliminate the last uncertainties.

Evening wear for women

There are now a variety of evening dresses in different shapes and colors. Elegant evening dresses are no longer just long, but can also be short. And midi dresses are also popular. Therefore, we women are spoiled for choice for special occasions and celebrations. In order to make your decision when choosing an elegant evening dress a little easier, we have collected tips for choosing your evening dress. Also, note great ideas for outdoor wedding attire.

Matching evening dresses for your figure type

In general, you should wear what you like and choose the dress that makes you feel good. Nevertheless, different shapes and colors give us women the opportunity to conceal certain problem areas or to emphasize popular body parts and put them in the limelight. It can therefore be an advantage if you know your figure type and the dress that goes with it. So we have a short and simple overview for you. In addition, also note our overview of fabrics and their properties with care instructions.

Choosing the right dress length

The general rule here is: wear what you like! Because if you wear evening dresses that you don’t feel comfortable in, it won’t be a great evening. And with the right clothing, you create the feel-good factor and can strengthen your self-confidence. While it’s not quite as strict these days, long evening dresses or midi dresses are still worn for some formal occasions, such as weddings or galas. While many women more often choose the short variants for informal occasions. Short dresses are a fashion trick for women with short legs in particular.

Beautiful décolleté or back neckline?

Women with slightly larger breasts, in particular, like to wear dresses with a special neckline to emphasize their beautiful décolleté. You can choose between strapless, halter neck, or one shoulder. If you are one of those women who have fewer breasts or you do not want to emphasize your décolleté, you can choose a high-necked dress with a low back. Because these are just as seductive as other evening wear for women.

What color for an elegant evening dress?

Muted colors are often required for special occasions, such as weddings or graduation ceremonies. Here you can fall back on beige tones, dusky pink, dark blue, or green tones. But a strong red or dark red is also suitable for elegant dresses. It often depends on the season and which colors you wear. You can also choose the color of your dress according to which color is currently in trend. Your skin type can also be decisive. Because certain colors can flatter your skin type. So also note our tips on how to look more attractive with sexy clothes and great colors.

Combine evening dresses with matching accessories

  1. You can complement a chic, half-length, colorful cocktail dress with an elegant updo and inconspicuous silver or gold accessories.
  2. If you wear single-colored dresses, you can combine them well with eye-catching accessories. Long pearl necklaces, large costume jewelery, or large hoop earrings go well with this.
  3. Round off evening dresses with a clutch or small shoulder bag. As a woman, it is always good to have a small bag with you in which to store your cell phone, lipstick, or something else.
  4. Beautiful and eye-catching shoes can also be your accessories and round off your rather inconspicuous outfit.