For optimal digestion and sleep quality, it's generally recommended to have dinner about 2 to 3 hours before bedtime. If you tend to go to bed around 10 PM, aiming to eat dinner around 7 PM would be ideal.
This timing helps your body have enough time to digest the meal before lying down, which can help prevent discomfort and issues like acid reflux. Adjusting this timing based on your personal schedule and how your body feels after eating can also be helpful.
What are the 8 benefits for having early dinner?
1. Improved Digestion: Eating earlier allows more time for digestion before bedtime, reducing the risk of indigestion and acid reflux.
2. Better Sleep Quality: By minimising digestive activity at night, you can enhance the quality of your sleep, as your body isn't working to digest food.
3. Increased Fat Burning: Having an early dinner can lengthen the overnight fasting period, which may help increase fat burning as your body uses stored fat for energy.
4. Reduced Snacking: Finishing meals earlier in the evening can help curb late-night snacking, which is often less healthy and more calorie-dense.
5. More Stable Blood Sugar Levels: Early dinners can help regulate blood sugar levels by preventing the spikes that might occur from late eating, beneficial for overall metabolic health and for those managing diabetes.
6. Enhanced Energy Levels in the Morning: Eating earlier can lead to feeling lighter and more energized upon waking, as the body has had ample time to process food and rejuvenate during sleep.
7. Weight Management: Early dinners can contribute to better portion control and reduced calorie intake, both of which are helpful for weight management.
8. More Time for Evening Activities: An earlier dinner frees up your evening, allowing more time for relaxation, hobbies, or exercise, which can contribute to a better work-life balance.
Inputs By: Dr Sourav Ghosh, Medical Director , Techno India DAMA Hospital