Highlights
- Late
night dinners have adverse effects on blood pressure and thus increase the
risk of heart attack.
- Blood
pressure is meant to fall by 10% overnight when the body rests.
- In
people with high pressure, this drop in blood pressure is not observed and
they are likely to suffer from non-dipper hypertension.
- Late
night meals also affect the circadian rhythm by causing the release of
stress hormones such as adrenaline.
Eating
late night dinners especially within two hours of bedtime has adverse effects
on health. It increases the risk of
heart
attack and puts the body on high alert. This causes the release of
stress hormones like adrenaline, which could affect the circadian rhythm (body
clock).
One
among four people suffer from high blood pressure.
Blood
pressure is meant to fall by 10% overnight. For about 40% of those
with
hypertension, blood pressure does not drop
properly overnight which increases the risk of heart attacks. And people eating
after 7 pm also do not experience that drop in blood pressure and they are
twice as likely to suffer from non-dipper hypertension. Late night meals can have
more of an impact on
blood pressure than a diet high in salt content.
‘Healthy lifestyle changes include having a good and timely breakfast and lunch, with light dinners two hours before bedtime.’
In
a study conducted by Turkish University, cardiologists studied more than 700
people, both men and women with high blood pressure, to understand the impact
of differences in the time of meals and consistency in their diet on their health.
The researchers collected data on the type of food eaten, salt content in each meal, whether breakfast was taken
and the time of evening meals.
The
results that were revealed at the European Society of Cardiology Congress in
Rome, stated that when people eat is as important as what they eat. Almost 25% of those who ate
dinner within two hours of going to bed did not experience their pressure
falling sufficiently overnight, in
comparison to 14.2% who ate earlier.
Modern
lifestyle changes with hectic work schedule and long commutes, force people to
take up erratic eating habits including late-night dinners.
Experts
recommend on having early dinners allowing the body to wind down and rest. Also
having a good breakfast and lunch and going light on dinner has beneficial effects on health.
Dr. Ebru Özpelit, associate professor of cardiology,
Dokuz Eylül University, Izmir, who led the research said, "We must
define the ideal frequency and timing of meals because how we eat may be as
important as what we eat. Eating
breakfast is important, we should
have a strong breakfast, we shouldn't skip lunch. We must have a small dinner
and it mustn't be later than 7 o'clock in the evening."
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Professor Peter Weissberg, medical director at the
British Heart Foundation, said, "It is normal for blood pressure to reduce overnight,
even in people with hypertension. However, in some hypertensives their blood
pressure remains elevated throughout the night putting them at potentially
higher risk of future complications. This research suggests that eating a meal
late at night may contribute to the failure of their blood pressure to reduce.
This observation, which needs to be confirmed in further, carefully designed
studies, suggests that eating early in the evening may help people to gain
better
control of their blood pressure."
Researchers hope to confirm the
results using larger study population.
Benefits of Eating Dinner Early
- Promotes good sleep
- Reduces gastrointestinal problems
- Prevents obesity
- Reduces stress levels
-
Re-energizes
the body
Source-Medindia