A late dinner, especially a heavy one, can interfere with falling asleep. In addition, a person does not get full rest because the digestive system remains active. Another long-known drawback of this habit is that the body does not cleanse itself of harmful substances, as this function is mainly carried out during proper nighttime rest.
But it turns out these are not the only downsides of eating late. A study published in the journal eBioMedicine showed that late meals are particularly dangerous for people with an evening chronotype — “night owls.”
A research team from the German Institute of Human Nutrition analyzed data from 46 pairs of twins and found that late dinners in “night owls” triggered a sharper spike in blood sugar levels, according to Planet Today. This increases the risk of metabolic disorders, particularly diabetes.
The scientists conducted a five-day experiment in which participants were instructed to record the timing and amount of food consumed. At the same time, tests were carried out to assess metabolism and glucose levels. The results showed that metabolic processes are closely linked to the body’s biological rhythms. As a result, an identical diet can affect health differently depending on a person’s chronotype.
The authors acknowledge that the study was short in duration and limited in sample size, and that more extensive research is needed. However, doctors can already draw certain conclusions when developing personalized dietary recommendations that take into account a person’s biorhythms.
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