Your digestion naturally slows down at night, which means that midnight snack you grabbed? It’s not getting processed—it’s just sitting there. And while it rots in your gut, it creates the perfect playground for a sneaky bacteria called H. pylori. This pathogen thrives on stagnant food and can actually shut down your stomach acid production, leading to poor nutrient absorption and digestive issues like reflux. Over time, this disrupts your ability to absorb protein, B12, zinc, and other essential minerals. Want better digestion and deeper sleep? Give your gut a break and close the kitchen a few hours before bed.