Winter Dinner Time: Modern science believes that as the cold gets colder and the days get shorter, we should adjust our dinner times. Eating at the right time can significantly improve your metabolism (digestion), mood and sleep. Our body clock, the circadian rhythm, works in sync with sunlight and darkness. Since it gets dark early in winter, our digestive system slows down. Therefore, it is beneficial to eat dinner early. According to a report in India Today, new research on chrononutrition suggests that not only what you eat is important for health, but also the time at which you eat.
Research shows that eating dinner late (eg, 10 p.m.) raises blood sugar levels faster and slows fat burning than eating dinner at 6 p.m. This effect is observed even when the amount of food and sleep time are the same. Several studies have concluded that consuming more calories earlier in the day and eating an early and light dinner is better for health. This practice helps control weight, blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol. Eating early in the evening keeps the body’s metabolism in proper rhythm, leading to better digestion, hormonal balance and calorie burn before bed. As a result, not only does the quality of sleep improve, but the risk of diseases like type 2 diabetes also decreases.
Effect of getting less sunlight
In winter, the days are shorter and there is less sunlight, which can disrupt our body’s internal clock (circadian rhythm). It also affects our mood (a condition known as ‘seasonal affective disorder’), and it often makes people eat or snack late at night. However, eating too much at bedtime disrupts digestion and sleep, which can be even more harmful to health. Therefore, experts recommend eating dinner between 5:30 and 7:00 p.m., or at least two to three hours before bedtime.
Eat mindfully
Since our metabolism is more active during the day and in the sun, it is important to eat a large breakfast and lunch. It is also important to establish a meal routine and adapt it to your daily routine and physical exertion. For example, athletes may need to eat late at night, but this is not beneficial for less active individuals. Finally, the best way to stay healthy is to eat mindfully. Eating according to your lifestyle and body needs will ensure a healthy balance between energy, mood and sleep during these winter months.