Here is the time you should have dinner to avoid insomnia and digestion problems

In Europe we generally eat dinner quite late (between 8pm and 10pm depending on the country). But this rather late meal is not necessarily suited to the tastes of our metabolism… Result? We sleep poorly, feel heavy and have difficulty digesting. But then, what time should we have dinner?

A more complex answer than it seems

According to Vanessa Rissetto, dietician and CEO of Culina Health interviewed by Vogue USAto estimate the time each of us should have dinner, It is important to take into account several factors such as age or lifestyle. A night worker cannot eat at the same time as someone who tends to get up and go to bed early. But on average, the specialist still recommends consuming the last meal 3 hours before going to bed. The target ? Avoid gastric problems which are often the cause of a restless night.

According to Perri Halperin, clinical nutrition coordinator at Mount Sinai Health System: “What is most important is to eat at regular times throughout the day. You should gradually become hungry and gradually satiated in a pattern repeating every three to four hours. »

Photo by @Jason Briscoe via Unsplash

How do I know what time to have dinner?

When you suffer from digestive problems, such as acid reflux, heartburn or bloating, It may be helpful to eat dinner as early as possible to give your body time to digest properly.

People with diabetes usually see an improvement in their blood sugar levels when they eat dinner 3 to 4 hours before going to bed. According to McKenzie Caldwell, a registered dietitian and PCOS nutrition expert interviewed by Rowing : “If you eat full meals earlier in the day, your body is usually pretty good at telling you when it’s time for dinner.”adds: “Hunger signals can also help each person decide when a full meal would be appropriate for them in the evening. “.

Listening to your body’s needs: a new way to manage your meals

Have you ever heard of itintuitive eating ? This new way of eating emphasizes listening to your body to guide food choices, rather than following rigid diets, food rules or calorie restrictions. It is an awareness-based approach that aims to rediscover a healthy relationship with your body. And if the latter is more oriented towards what we consume, even the moment we eat can be part of it. Based on the principle that the body knows how and when to nourish itself, it will therefore have the possibility to do so at the moments that best suit it. Just listen to it!

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