Not getting sleep properly? Experiencing acid reflux at night? Not being able to clear your bowels well in the morning? If you’re experiencing all these problems then it is most likely that you are taking your dinners late in the night.
Human body is a multitasker as it can do both, sleeping and keeping the organ systems like digestive system, respiratory system and nervous system active. However, our digestive system is most active in the day time, but it gets slower during nights. Our metabolism slows down at night.
Dr Tarala Meisheri, General Physician and Surgeon, Auranagabad, said, “Ideally, the last meal of the day should be had at least two to three hours before going to bed. If you eat and go straight to bed, you are most likely to face heartburn, acid reflux, improper sleep and so on.”
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If you’re neglecting these issues thinking that an antacid can fix it or maybe your gym trainer will help you lose the excess weight, or if you think ‘It’s okay if I’m not sleeping well, it’s called adulting’ then no my friend, it is not. You’re storing much bigger health problems for your bright future.
If you’re eating your dinners late, then you are storing chronic conditions for yourself like GERD, indigestion, obesity, and so on. The list is huge, but we do not want to scare you, eating early dinners consistently will fix maximum problems.
Also read: Why Should You Consume Ghee On An Empty Stomach In Morning?
How will eating early benefit you?
1. Promotes Better Digestion
“As you eat your dinner early, your digestive system gets proper rest of nearly 10-12 hours and it is ready to work again afresh in the morning. Like extra working hours drain your mind, extra working hours might weaken your digestive system,” Dr Meisheri said adding, “Well rested digestive system will improve your digestion.”
2. Absorption of Nutrients
According to Dr Meisheri, if you eat early, your digestive system works well and gets time to absorb the nutrients like protein, carbohydrates, fats and vitamins which can prevent a number of diseases and deficiencies.
3. Weight Management
According to a study published in the Endocrine Society’s Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, having a late dinner may increase weight. Another study by Harvard states that habitually eating late meals can lead to weight gain. So ultimately, eating early dinners will help you manage your weight.
4. Relief from acid reflux
Dr Meisheri advised, “For the people who have chronic acid reflux, having an early dinner is extremely beneficial. Keeping a gap of 2-3 hours between your last meals and bedtime will help digest food better and reduce acid reflux episodes.” Dr also added that chronic acid reflux can cause esophageal ulcers leading to esophageal cancer.
5. Sound sleep
If you have dinner 2-3 hours before sleeping, majority of the digestion process has already been done. Your stomach along with you will get enough rest to restart for the next day. If consumed food late, it might lead to acid reflux which can disrupt your night sleep causing lethargy for the following day.
Also read: Here Are 4 Post Meal Drinks You Can Make At Home For Better Digestion
Bottomline
Dr Meisheri concluded by saying, “Eating early can enhance the quality of your overall health. It can prevent many underlying diseases in future. Early dinners will promote metabolism and improve your gut health and keep you overall healthy.”