Eating late in old age may be as harmful to one’s health as eating unhealthy food. As a retiree, you have most likely been told that “you are what you eat”. This statement is true, but it’s not the complete truth. You are not just what you eat. You are what you eat when you eat it.
Meal time should not just be a matter of convenience, the time of meal is as important as the meal eaten because it can affect body metabolism and brain function. For example, fruits are best eaten on an empty stomach 30 minutes to two hours before the main meal. Also, eating after 7 pm could be detrimental to one’s health especially after retirement.
Eating late at night can lead to weight gain and inflammation due to a hormone called leptin. It can do more harm to the heart than having a diet high in salt.
Some of the dangers of eating late are:
- Increased risk of developing obesity
- Diabetes
- Cardiovascular diseases
- Lack of sleep
The best time to eat for an elderly person is when hunger is present, but it is possible to develop the habit of not eating late. Having said that, it is important to take into account each person’s physical condition and medical history.
The food we eat at night has a different effect on our body than food eaten during the day. The effect of eating late in old age was studied by various researchers. They found that the time of meal can affect the quality of sleep and circadian rhythms.
This is because the body tries to digest the food when it should focus on resting, and problems like heartburn and acid reflux are experienced because of the position of the body; the lying position for hours with a full stomach is not ideal. Sometimes we eat because our brain just thinks about food, and not necessarily because we need the food at bedtime. If you get hungry at night, eat a banana. It contains compounds that will help you to sleep well
