Late night snacking.

Now deep into the depths of finals, I've experienced more students than ever in the library until all odd hours of the night, understandably so, considering final papers and exams can make-or-break GPAs. With students out and about, scurrying to study and finish assignments, snacks have been made available in the library to keep energy levels up and provide support to students who otherwise might feel alone or hopeless. However, with these snack food sand drinks being made available to students at later hours of the night, it makes me wonder how advantageous they really are for late night work?

Growing up I was always told not to eat right before bed because my body wouldn't properly digest the food that I'm consuming during my slumber and/or it would leave my stomach feeling uneasy and I wouldst get a "good nights rest." This lesson may still hold some merit today because overeating, especially before bed, means your body isn't receiving adequate time to process foods at the rate at which it needs to. However, according to HealthySimpleLife.com, a forum for dietary Q&As, it's suggested that feeding your late night cravings with small portions of healthy snacks can actually stimulate weight loss and provide you with a more satisfying sleep. By snacking on something small and healthy prior to bed, you're stimulating your metabolism and providing your body with calories to burn through the night while you recover for the next day.

So for my fellow late night studiers, good luck to you with your exams! Don't feel guilty snacking so long as it's healthy and it provides you with sufficient energy through finals week!