How long before bedtime should you eat dinner? Eating at the wrong time can lead to illness.

News Topical, Digital Desk : In today's lifestyle, the habit of staying up late and eating late has become common. Most people eat dinner shortly before bedtime or go to sleep immediately after eating. However, this habit can be very harmful to your health (Harms of Late Dinner). 

In fact, when we eat late or go to sleep immediately after eating, our body is unable to digest the food properly. This can lead to many problems, such as weight gain and insomnia. Therefore, it is very important to eat dinner at the right time. Let's learn how long before bedtime you should eat dinner for better digestion and what foods to avoid during dinner. 

How long before sleeping should you have dinner?

There should be at least a 2-3 hour gap between bedtime and dinner. This means that if you go to bed at 10 p.m., your dinner should be between 7 and 8 p.m.

This is important because-

• Preventing gastric reflux – Lying down immediately after eating can cause stomach acid to flow back into the esophagus, causing heartburn and acidity.
• Metabolism – Our metabolism slows down during sleep . Eating beforehand gives our body more time to burn calories and break down food properly.
• Deep sleep – When the stomach is not too busy with digestion, the body is able to go into 'repair mode', which improves the quality of sleep.

Avoid these things at dinner

Dinner should always be light and easily digestible. There are some foods that can be taxing on the digestive system at night:

• Spicy and fried foods: Chili, spices, and deep-fried foods increase bile. This can not only cause indigestion but can also lead to restlessness and heartburn throughout the night.
• Heavy protein – Protein takes longer to digest than carbohydrates. Foods like red meat or kidney beans and chickpeas put more pressure on the digestive system at night, which can lead to a heavy feeling in the morning.
• Caffeine and Dark Chocolate - Coffee, tea, or dark chocolate contain caffeine. This can make you sleepy and interfere with digestion. Drinking these at night can completely disrupt your sleep cycle.
• Raw Salads - It may seem surprising, but you should avoid eating too much raw salad at night. The body needs a lot of energy to break down fiber, which can cause gas or bloating. Steamed or cooked vegetables are a better option at night.
• Sweets – Eating sweets or ice cream after dinner can cause a sudden spike in blood sugar, which increases energy levels and makes it difficult to sleep. This is also a major cause of weight gain.

What should dinner be like?

Your dinner should be light, warm, and fresh. Khichdi, porridge, vegetable soup, or a roti with moong dal are examples of a perfect dinner. Also, a 10-15 minute walk or Vajrasana after dinner can improve digestion.

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