Submitted By: Dennis Zaderaka, Chicago, IL

Since insulin interferes with growth hormone, would it be better to eat the carbs on high carb day earlier in the day and not interfere with the night time HGH activity?

That is not necessary as long as you allow sufficient time after eating before going to sleep. How much time depends on the size of the meal. 1 hour is the minimum, for a medium-sized meal. After a larger meal, I’d say 90 minutes. After a giant meal, like a Thanksgiving feast or lavish buffet, I recommend at least 2 hours. The energy demands of digestion divert a lot of oxygenated blood away from other processes, impeding sleep’s restorative functions. Consequently, you’ll likely find yourself lethargic or less refreshed the morning after going to bed on a full stomach. And keep in mind that if you miss meals during the day, the likelihood of a late-night binge goes up.