Why Eating Dinner After 8 p.m. Is Not Good

In today’s busy life people's eating habits have gotten worse. Skipping meals, eating at odd timings or midnight snacking has become a very common habit these days. Eating dinner very late is also among one of these habits. It can cause various health problems like indigestion, acidity or even lead to gaining weight.
It is said that eating after 8 p.m. can also result in problems related to digestion or bloating. The timing of dinner matters as much as what we eat and understanding why can help improve digestion, sleep and even weight management.


At night time our body is supposed to get rest. But eating very late at night can cause disturbance in it. The body will focus more on digesting the food. This leads to digestive issues like acidity, bloating and even makes us uncomfortable while trying to sleep. Our stomach can feel heavy and the food does not get properly digested.
Our body needs proper time to digest food at night, but eating too late disrupts this process. It is good to follow a certain schedule to have dinner so that our digestion happens smoothly. It is also good to avoid midnight snacking. It can lead to binge eating and weight gain.


Eating dinner very late can lead to even more serious health issues. It can affect blood sugar levels and slows down metabolism. A slow metabolism makes it easier to gain weight which may lead to obesity and other heart problems.
The digestive system of the body gets disturbed if we eat late at night when our body is supposed to be resting. It can lead to gas and heaviness in the gut.

The digestive system needs enough time to do its work. It is advised that one should eat dinner 2 to 3 hours before dinner. Hence the best timing can be between 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. This way the body gets an appropriate amount of time to digest the food. It can be harmful to eat dinner any later than this.


For a good sleep as well as health it is important to keep in mind what and when we eat our dinner. If possible it is good to eat dinner everyday at a fixed time between 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.. This will help maintain the natural flow of the digestive system.
Dinner should consist of food that is easy to digest and light on the stomach. Fried and heavy foods are harder to digest and take a lot of time to do so.
One can also go for a short walk after dinner instead of immediately lying down on bed. This makes the digestion process easier.

Maintaining healthy eating habits is essential for a healthy and strong body. It is our duty to take care of our body properly by feeding it with good and nutritious food.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Is it okay to eat dinner after 8 p.m.?
   It’s better to avoid eating dinner after 8 p.m. because the body slows down at night. Eating late can cause indigestion, acidity and poor sleep.
2. What is the best time to eat dinner?
   The best time to eat dinner is between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. This gives the body enough time to digest food before sleeping.
3. What kind of food is good for dinner?
   Light and simple foods like soups, salads or vegetables are best for dinner. Avoid fried or heavy foods at night.
4. Should one lie down right after dinner?
   No, it’s better to wait at least 30 minutes and take a short walk before lying down. This helps with proper digestion.