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Although a late dinner might be unavoidable at times, it definitely should not be your go-to, especially if weight loss is your goal.
Instead, you should try to finish eating at least 2-3 hours before turning in for the night. By eating in tune with your circadian rhythm, AKA your body’s internal clock, you can make sure you have the adequate amount of time time to digest your meals before sleeping.
Sydney Greene, MS, RD, from Greene Health, explained these eating times to Eat This, Not That!. "The goal is to finish eating dinner, and any dessert, at least 2-3 hours before bed," she said.
"For most [people], with hectic workdays, this is not entirely realistic so set a non-negotiable 1 hour before bed that is food-free," Greene explained. "Research shows that those who go 2-3 hours without eating before bed have a decreased cancer risk, insulin resistance, and inflammation."
According to Greene, you should time your lunch to 3-5 hours before dinner, which "allows the body time proper time for digestion." You should reserve the same amount of time between breakfast and lunch.
In other words, the time you eat breakfast should impact the time you eat dinner. With that in mind, try to have a general plan for the timing of all your meals to keep it in line with your circadian rhythm.
If you need any more convincing, Healthline also suggests that eating in alignment with your circadian rhythm could be connected to healthy digestion.
The outlet explains that finishing your meals with 2-3 hours to spare before bed can help those who want to "lose weight," "prevent overeating," and "prevent acid reflux at night."
