What time do you have dinner? In other words, is it okay if I eat something? yes! And there’s been quite a bit of recent research and health experts touting the importance of this seemingly insignificant habit.
“Earlier, it was a tradition in our family to finish our meals by 7.30 pm. Now, with the fast lifestyle and the opening of many restaurants, pubs, cinemas etc., eating habits have changed,” says Bangalore. says Dr. Abhay Gungrusi, endocrinologist at Sagar Hospital. south first.
She adds, “Dinner is often the last meal eaten, leading to an increase in diabetes, heart-related diseases, and other metabolic disorders.”
Recent studies have shown that eating an early dinner is associated with better digestion, better sleep, and lower risk of chronic disease, as well as obesity and longevity.
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Late dinner and lifestyle-related diseases
In urban India, where work and social events often extend late into the night, finding time for an early dinner can be difficult.
Eating late at night can disrupt your body’s natural rhythms and cause weight gain and metabolic problems.
Dr. Sudhir Kumar, a renowned neurologist at Apollo Hospitals in Hyderabad, recently posted on X: “Early dinner reduces the risk of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).” Limiting meal times (by eating dinner earlier) reduces the risk of obesity, diabetes, and many other diseases. ”
Two main reasons to have an early dinner
1. Eating dinner early reduces the risk of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
2. Restricting meal times (by eating dinner earlier) reduces the risk of obesity, diabetes, and many other diseases.If you go deeper… https://t.co/qUEpk0cPm3
— Dr. Sudhir Kumar MD DM (@hyderabaddoctor) October 26, 2023
He further writes, “If you go further back in history, our grandparents and previous generations ate dinner shortly after sunset (and after dark).”
Dr Sudhir added that late night dinners and late night pubs/parties are a recent phenomenon.
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What time is the ideal time to eat dinner?
The ideal time to eat dinner varies depending on a person’s daily schedule, lifestyle, culture, etc., but several researchers and doctors believe that the ideal time to eat dinner is between 7 and 8 p.m. It suggests that there is.
“Dinner time before sunset is ideal. But now only people who tend to follow intermittent fasting typically eat before 6 p.m.” Ideally, you should eat at least around 7 p.m.,” says metabolic coach and low-carb practitioner Dr. Shashikant Iyengar. south first.
Eating dinner during this time aligns your body’s natural circadian rhythm and promotes optimal digestion and metabolism, says Dr. Satyanarayana Mysore, head of sleep medicine and pulmonology at Manipal Hospital in Bangalore. speaks. south first.
“Finishing dinner by 7pm allows your body enough time to digest your food before bed, improving your sleep quality and overall health. It is also consistent with the natural decline of ,” he explains.
But at the end of the day, the optimal dinner time also depends on your personal schedule. For example, if someone gets home late from work, it may not be possible to eat right away. Even in these cases, Dr. Mysore adds, it is advisable to leave at least two hours between dinner and bedtime to aid digestion and sleep quality.
Ultimately, consistency in meal timing is also important. Eating at approximately the same time each day regulates your body clock and improves metabolic processes.
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Eating dinner at 7pm can extend your life
a study It was published in the magazine Frontiers of nutrition Explore the interesting link between early dinners and potential longevity.
The study, conducted in L’Aquila, Italy, is a region known for its large population of nonagenarians (90 to 99 years old) and centenarians (those who reach 100 years of age), and examined the timing of dinner and the foods consumed. Focused on types of.
The researchers found that dinner was typically served around 7:13 p.m. Further research revealed that all participants followed a dietary pattern characterized by strict calorie control.
They maintained their low calorie intake over a significant period of 17.5 hours from dinner until lunch the next day.
Why eating before sunset is beneficial
Dr Pramod V Satya, Consultant Internal Medicine, Manipal Hospital, Millers Road, says, south first Finishing all your meals before the sun goes down and not eating until the next morning not only has health benefits, but is also good for weight loss.
This gives you a good fasting period of almost 14 hours. This is also called intermittent fasting.
“The reason this leads to weight loss is because as the evening approaches, the body tends to produce more steroid hormones, growth hormone, and more insulin. All of these are lipogenic, which means sugar “We reduce it and store it as fat. So there’s always a tendency to produce more fat from whatever food you eat at night,” explains Dr. Satya.
He goes on to say, “That’s why intermittent fasting takes calories away from the body, which is in a state where it’s prone to producing large amounts of fat.” It has also been shown to act as a good protection against and is less atherogenic. Eating before sunset can help reduce unhealthy fats that tend to block small blood vessels.”
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consistency is key
At the end of the day, it’s important to be consistent with your meal timing, says Dr. Gundugurusi. Eating at approximately the same time each day regulates your body clock and improves metabolic processes.
Eating at the same time each day improves digestion and absorption of nutrients, and stabilizes metabolic function.
This regularity prevents digestive discomforts such as indigestion and acid reflux, aids in effective weight management by regulating hunger cues, and maintains stable energy and mood levels by balancing blood sugar levels. can be maintained.
Dr. Gundugurti further adds, “Staying consistent meal timing, especially dinner, can contribute to improved sleep quality by allowing the body to digest food well before bedtime.” I am.
