Is Early Dinner Healthy 10 Reasons Why You Should Have Dinner Before 8 PM – Onlymyhealth
We all know that dinner is an important meal that we eat in the evening. Eating it at the right time can make you fit and healthy. There is a famous saying that goes like, “Breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dinner like a pauper”.
Do you know eating dinner early can improve digestion, sleep quality and various metabolic disorders? Here are ten compelling reasons why having dinner before 8 PM could be advantageous:
Improved Digestion
In OnlyMyHealth’s Poshan summit 2023, Dr Shikha Singh, Clinical Nutritionist said, “As the night approaches, the metabolism of our body slows down. Finishing your dinner early allows your digestive system enough time to metabolise the food before bedtime. The later you eat your dinner, the longer it will stay undigested in your stomach. This undigested food will be turned into fat, resulting in obesity, indigestion, acid reflux, and bloating.”
Also read: What’s The Best Time To Eat Dinner If You Want To Lose Weight, Expert Answers
Eating dinner early allows the body ample time to digest the food before bedtime. Digestion typically slows down during sleep, and lying down soon after a meal can lead to discomfort and issues like acid reflux or indigestion.
Enhanced Sleep Quality
“Consuming large and heavy meals close to bedtime disrupts this process, resulting in pain, indigestion, and other conditions that make it difficult to fall asleep,” said Dr Sangeeta Tiwari, Clinical Nutritionist at Artemis Lite, New Delhi.
If you consume dinner early, it can significantly improve sleep quality. Eating late can disrupt the body’s natural circadian rhythm, which can interfere with sleep. Additionally, the body isn’t working to digest food in the middle of the night, leading to a deeper, more restful sleep.
It May Help Manage Weight
Studies have shown that eating earlier in the evening can help with weight loss. Late-night eating has been linked to weight gain as the body’s metabolism slows down at night, making it harder to burn off calories.
Journal Nutrients discovered that eating dinner early decreased blood glucose levels after supper and throughout the night compared to eating dinner late.
Reduced Risk of Metabolic Disorders
Eating your last meal of the day earlier can lower the risk of metabolic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease. This is attributed to better glucose and insulin levels due to aligning eating patterns more closely with the body’s circadian rhythms.
Increased Energy Levels in the Morning
When dinner is consumed earlier, the body can focus overnight on restorative processes rather than digestion. This can lead to feeling more refreshed and energised upon waking.
Decreased Inflammation
Eating early might help reduce inflammation in the body. Late meals can trigger increased levels of inflammatory markers, which are linked to various chronic diseases.
Better Heart Health
Having an early dinner allows the body to regulate blood pressure and heart rate during sleep more effectively. Studies have indicated that late meals can increase blood pressure and stress on the heart.
Also read: 3 Yoga Asanas To Try Post Dinner For Restful Sleep
More Time for Fasting
Eating dinner early extends the overnight fasting period. Longer fasting durations have been associated with numerous health benefits, including improved brain function and cellular repair mechanisms.
Improved Mental Health
There is some evidence suggesting that aligning meals with the circadian rhythm, including an earlier dinner, can improve mood and resilience to stress by stabilising blood sugar levels and reducing hormonal imbalances.
Having dinner before 8 PM can align better with your body’s natural rhythms and contribute to improved health and quality of life. It’s beneficial to experiment with meal timings to see what best fits your lifestyle and health goals.
