ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): As winter sets in and days become shorter, health experts say it’s not just our wardrobes that need adjusting — our dinner timings should also change with the new season.
According to nutritionists, eating late at night during colder months can disrupt the body’s natural rhythms, affecting mood, energy and health.
They said eating habits and times must be in consonance with the body’s internal clock.
Eating late in the night goes against the circadian rhythm — which regulates digestion, hormone release and calorie burning.
The circadian rhythm controls how efficiently the body processes food throughout the day. In winter, when daylight hours shrink, this rhythm becomes even more sensitive to late-night eating.
Best time to have dinner
Nutritionists suggest that winter dinners should be completed at least 2 to 3 hours before bedtime.
According to scientific studies, eating earlier in the evening supports better digestion and improves the body’s natural metabolic processes.
Studies show that people who eat dinner early experience 20% lower spikes in blood sugar.
Early eaters burn 10% more fat than those who eat at 10 pm.
Consuming more calories earlier in the day helps regulate weight, blood pressure and cholesterol.
These metabolic benefits significantly reduce the risk of heart disease.
Health studies link late-night eating with increased risks of obesity, type-2 diabetes, and disrupted sleep patterns.
When meals are delayed, the body struggles to process food efficiently, leading to slowed metabolism and greater fat storage.
Experts are of the view that digestion and sleep-related hormones operate best earlier in the evening. “Eating late can interfere with both, leading to morning sluggishness and less restful sleep.”
