The Doctor Named the Exact Time When You Should Have Dinner in Winter

In the cold season, our body has a hard time. To help ourselves better adapt to winter, it is important to adjust our usual schedule.

In winter, we usually update our wardrobe: we take out our winter jacket, warm hat, and mittens. However, many habits also need updating.

According to Catherine Norton, an associate professor of sports nutrition and exercise at the University of Limerick, it is very important to change the time when you are used to having dinner during the cold season. And there is a good reason for that.

Adjusting Your Internal Clock

When it is dark and cold outside, the temptation to indulge in a late meal after work is great.

However, if you want to stay healthy and active, it is better to do the opposite. As Norton notes, in winter, it makes sense to move dinner time to an earlier hour.

This is necessary to maintain your internal circadian rhythm. It plays a very important role in how our digestion works and what number you will ultimately see on the scale.

The expert advises finishing dinner ideally between 5:30 PM and 7:00 PM. These times may seem unattainable for those who work late and have long commutes home.

In this case, Norton recommends finishing the last meal at least 2-3 hours before going to bed, as reported by the Daily Mail.

What Science Says

Numerous studies confirm the opinion about the harm of late dinners. For example, researchers found that people who are used to having dinner at 10 PM have a blood sugar level that rises 20% more and burn 10% less fat than those who eat their last meal 4 hours earlier.

Moreover, researchers link eating right before sleep with an increased risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes.

However, if on a particular day you cannot manage to plan dinner earlier, it is still not advisable to go to bed hungry.

"The main thing is awareness: you need to make choices in favor of your health rather than follow strict rules that cause stress. The healthiest rhythm is the one that aligns with your biological characteristics and lifestyle," notes Norton.

First and foremost, those who wake up sluggish, sleep poorly, and feel heaviness in their stomach should adjust their usual schedule. The cause of these problems may lie in having dinner too late.

Additionally, the choice of specific foods for dinner is also important. Of course, if you have eaten anything throughout the day, you want your last meal to be hearty and filling. However, doctors and nutrition experts still recommend opting for lighter dishes.