Many people have a habit of eating dinner late, even going to bed right after eating. This habit can affect the digestive system, weight and sleep quality if maintained regularly.
According to Dr. Brunda, a internist at Aster CMI Hospital (India), the body needs time to digest food before entering a resting state. When you eat and sleep immediately afterwards, the digestive process will slow down because the body switches to a resting state, making the stomach and intestines work less efficiently.
Lying down immediately after dinner can increase the risk of heartburn, bloating, bloating and acid reflux. When the body is in a lying position, stomach acid easily refluxes into the esophagus, causing burning and discomfort, and disrupting sleep. If this condition is repeated for a long time, digestive health may be affected.
Not only that, eating dinner too close to bedtime is also related to weight gain. At night, metabolism is slower than during the day. When energizing late, the body tends to store more calories in the form of fat instead of using them to create energy. In the long run, this can increase the risk of overweight, obesity and blood sugar disorders.
The habit of eating late can also disrupt the circadian rhythm, the 24-hour cycle naturally regulates sleep, hormones and metabolism. Digestive processes are more efficient during the day, when the body is alert and exercises a lot. Eating too late can affect blood sugar control and increase the risk of type 2 diabetes.
So how long is the ideal time between dinner and bedtime? According to experts' recommendations, a distance of 2 to 3 hours should be maintained. This helps the stomach have enough time to process most of the food before you lie down. For example, if you plan to go to bed at 10:30 PM, you should finish dinner around 7:30 PM–8 PM.
Besides the time to eat, dinner quality is also very important. A light, balanced meal, limiting grease and spicy spices can help digestion more favorably and improve sleep quality. Maintaining a regular diet every day will support the digestive system, control weight and contribute to protecting long-term health.
According to Dr. Brunda, the time for dinner compared to bedtime has a direct impact on the body's activities. Adjusting reasonable eating times, although a small change, can bring clear benefits to health.
