Eating dinner late can actually be detrimental to your health. This is a reason why as many as 40 percent of Americans suffer from acid reflux, an epidemic including symptoms like – heartburn, indigestion, postnasal drip, hoarseness, difficulty in swallowing, chronic throat clearing, coughing, and asthma.
Eating dinner late also contributes to obesity, as well as increase your insulin and cholesterol levels, resulting in diabetes and heart disease.
It"s not only eating late, but a poor diet as well will increase the affects to your overall health. With a huge increase in the consumption of sugar, soft drinks, fat and processed foods in your evening meals, your glucose, hormones, triglycerides and cholesterol levels are affected, leading to diabetes and cardiovascular problems.
Furthermore, if you add an after-dinner dessert or bedtime snack, these dessert calories often create acid reflux by slowing digestion and relaxing the stomach valve that normally prevents the reflux. Other popular but notoriously bad-for-nighttime-reflux foods and beverages are mints, chocolate, soft drinks and alcohol.
Besides leading to diabetes and cardiovascular problems, as well as triggering acid reflux; eating late at night has some serious implications on your overall health.
Late-night eating affects your memory and cognitive functions negatively.
It also has a negative effect on sleep patterns and can make you have strange dreams.
Researchers have also found that eating dinner later than 8 o’clock in the evening results in high blood pressure.
Late dinner also makes you feel hungrier the next day. Eating late produces more glucose in your body that gives rise to a hormone called "ghrelin", responsible for triggering hunger, which ultimately leads to weight gain.
Now you know that what time you eat is as important as what you eat. Thus, it is vital to stop eating by 8 PM, or at least three hours before bed in order to prevent a few harmful health conditions. When you modify your diet with healthy food and beverage choices and start eating dinner earlier, then you will be able to achieve a healthy lifestyle.
Dr. Bunten is originally from Huntington Beach, CA. He attended high school in Tokyo, Japan, went to college at UC San Diego and then to medical school in the Midwest. He returned home to California for residency training in Family Medicine at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center. His immediate family all reside in Huntington Beach.
Dr Fishbein has been in the practice of family medicine for over 35 years in Irvine. He received his undergraduate degree from Southern Illinois University, medical degree from Chicago Medical School, and completed his family medicine residency at Memorial Hospital of Long Beach.
Dr. Kim is the Medical Director of Family Care Centers, Chair of the Department of Family Medicine at Hoag Hospital, and a recipient of the Physicians of Excellence award from the Orange County Medical Association. He is Board Certified in Family Medicine, and has been practicing in our community for over 20 years.
Dr. Memon is a board certified Family Medicine physician and recently completed her fellowship in Geriatrics at the University of California, Irvine Medical Center. She attended Saint George’s University, School of Medicine and completed her residency at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center. Her interest in medicine started at an early age and has since evolved into a passionate career.
Dr. Gina Nguyen obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology at UC Irvine where she graduated Suma Cum Laude. She went to USC Keck School of Medicine, and returned to UC Irvine for a Family Medicine Residency. Since 2005, she worked at Kaiser Permanente, VNCOC, and Family Care Center Urgent Care.
Dr. Williams is Board Certified in Family Medicine and Sports Medicine. He is a native to Orange County and returned home after completing his medical degree at the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque. After completing his residency in family practice he successfully completed a fellowship in sports medicine.
Dr. Hye Lee is a board-certified Family Practice Physician, affiliated with the American Osteopathic Association and the American College of Osteopathic Family Practice.She obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology at UC Riverside and earned her medical degree from Des Moines University Osteopathic Medical Center. Afterward, she did her internship at Downey Regional Medical Center in California and has been a primary care physician since 2005.
Dr. Coyne is a board certified family practice physician and a California native. He completed his undergraduate degree at UCLA before earning his medical degree at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. Dr Coyne spent 6 years in the US Air Force at Andrews and Luke Air Force bases, eventually separating as a Major. He enjoys working with patients of all ages.”
Dr. Jay Friehling is a Family Practice physician who has worked in Orange County since 1981. Born in Florida, he received his undergraduate degree from Cornell University and then earned a Medical Degree at the New York Medical College.” His healthcare interests include Diabetes, Geriatric Care, and Hospice Care.
Dr. Jennifer Shoquist is board certified in Family Medicine. Her special interest is woman’s health and her practice accepts patients from 6 years old to seniors. Dr. Shoquist received her M.D. degree at The University of Texas Medical School at Houston in Houston, Texas, and did her residency with Memorial Family Practice at memorial Southwest Hospital in Houston, Texas.
Dr. Tom is a board certified family medicine physician and native Californian. He received his bachelors of science with great distinction in biochemistry and honors in chemistry. Dr. Tom was awarded a Regents Scholarship to attend medical school at UC Irvine.
Dr. Yan attended Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed her Family Practice residency at Kern Medical Center in Bakersfield, California. She joined Family Care Center in 2001. She chose Family Practice because she enjoys working with a wide variety of people and because it provides a unique opportunity for continuing care.
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