Celebrity TV chef Nigella Lawson has revealed one bedroom habit that may shock fans – and sleep experts urge people to not do it as it can cause more harm than good
Nigella Lawson has revealed her ‘dirty’ bedroom habit – and it’s not what you think.
The renowned TV chef is known for her delicious recipes, cookbooks and on-screen charm, and now Nigella has shared she has a bedroom habit that might raise eyebrows.
The 64-year-old told The Times during an interview she loves to cheekily bring her dinner up to bed with her and eat it while in the covers – but sleep experts warn people against following suit. She said she is “pro-eating” in bed as long as it doesn’t need a knife and fork.
Nigella confessed: “I am very pro-eating in bed. I will eat absolutely anything in bed except something that needs a knife and fork. It has to be either fingers or a spoon.” However, Dr Lindsay Browning, sleep expert and psychologist at And So To Bed said this can do more harm than good.
Firstly, the expert said that using your bed for anything other than zonking out can disrupt your sleep quality. She explained: “Using the bed for activities other than sleep (and sex), such as eating, can interfere with the brain’s association of the bed with rest and relaxation.”
Experts recommend keeping the bed for sleep related activities, as it will help to “maintain a strong mental link between your bed and sleep” and if you use your bed for eating, working or watching TV, it can make drifting off harder.
Eating in bed can also pose potential digestive issues, Dr Browning warned. She said eating large meals late at night can potentially keep you awake, and by doing so while lying down too soon after, can make it easier for stomach acid to travel up into the oesophagus.
She advised: “Ideally, large meals should be finished at least 2-3 hours before lying down to allow proper digestion, and, although a smaller snack before bed (such as brown bread toast with peanut butter or a small bowl of porridge) may be helpful for sleep it should ideally be done while sitting in another room, instead of lying down in bed.”
There are also many hygiene issues that come with eating in bed, not to mention the crumbs you may then sit in making it uncomfortable. These crumbs, spills and food residue can attract insects and bacteria if not careful, Dr Browning warns and said if you do eat in bed, it’s vital to wash your covers even more regularly to keep your bed hygienic.
The expert said eating in bed could also contribute to “mindless eating habits” and warned of psychological impacts. It can also be easy to over eat while in bed. Dr Browning explained: “This habit could potentially contribute to weight gain over time, which may be especially important if you are trying to lose weight.”
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