The Science: As the sun goes down, your body begins to produce melatonin to prepare for sleep. Melatonin and insulin are naturally antagonistic. This means when melatonin is high, your body's ability to produce insulin and clear sugar from your blood is significantly impaired. Eating heavy meals late at night leaves glucose trapped in your bloodstream, leading to fat storage and fragmented sleep.

The Analogy: Eating a massive meal right before bed is like a boss dumping a massive stack of paperwork on your desk right as you are clocking out for the day. Your body is forced to stay up and work (digest) when it should be resting and recovering.