According to the Sky News Arabia website, eating late at night, especially right before bed, is linked to an increased risk of obesity and metabolic disorders like type 2 diabetes.
Why is an early dinner better?
Chronobiology experts believe that eating earlier aligns with the body's natural activity, as metabolism is higher before the body enters its nightly "rest phase." However, digestion, hormone secretion, and calorie burning all work according to circadian rhythms. When these processes overlap due to eating close to bedtime, it can affect sleep quality and metabolic health.
Does this mean it's necessary to move dinner earlier?
For some, yes, even if just a little. Meal timing can be a low-cost way to improve metabolic health, especially when combined with a healthy lifestyle and regular physical activity.
In winter, particularly in countries at northern latitudes, a lack of sunlight can lead to lower serotonin, which affects mood and increases the likelihood of delaying dinner or snacking throughout the evening. In this season, the impact of shorter days is not limited to mood; it extends to changing how the body processes food.
The body runs on a 24-hour clock, governed by its biological rhythms that regulate sleep, metabolism, digestion, and hormonal cycles. With winter's shorter days, many people tend to delay their evening meals without realizing this simple change can directly impact the body's energy, sleep, and metabolic health.
Here are three reasons why:
- Metabolic Harmony: Eating when metabolism is active improves blood sugar control and fat burning.
- Better Digestion: Leaving a gap between dinner and bedtime gives the digestive system a chance to rest, which improves sleep and recovery.
- Mood and Circadian Rhythm Support: Regular meals and an early dinner help stabilize the daily routine when light is scarce and internal rhythms are off.
Growing research in the field of chrononutrition suggests that meal timing can be as important as food quality. This field studies the impact of when we eat on the body's internal clock, and how shorter days can affect mood, metabolism, and health.
In one study, adults who ate dinner at 10 p.m. showed a 20% higher peak in blood sugar and a 10% lower rate of fat burning compared to those who ate at 6 p.m., despite similar meals and sleep times. Broader analyses, including 29 studies, have also found that eating earlier, reducing the number of meals, and focusing calorie intake during the day were associated with improved metabolic indicators like blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol.
As sunlight fades in winter, the body's metabolic rate also begins to slow down.
