Nutritionist Advises: Avoid These 3 Foods for Dinner to Optimize Digestion and Sleep Quality
Nutritionist Shweta Shah cautions that popular dinner options like raw salads and fruits may disrupt digestion and contribute to unwanted weight gain.
Avoid These 3 Common Dinner Mistakes for Better Health: Nutritionist Shweta Shah’s Tips
Similar to the case of breakfast, dinner is a significant meal that makes an important contribution to overall health. A perfect dinner is associated with improved sleep, less inflammation, better stress resilience, optimal digestion, and stable blood sugar levels during rest mode. But most of us unconsciously make decisions that could potentially harm our health.
In a recent April 11 video on YouTube, nutritionist Shweta Shah identified three of the most popular dinner options to avoid in order to maximize health and digestion. She explained why these foods could be sabotaging your health and offered healthier options.
Stop Consuming These 3 Foods for Dinner:
Say No to Salads
Salads are usually a default dinner option for most, but Shweta adds that some ingredients are difficult to digest.After all, the Western diet is showing an effect on our bodies now, and normally, people use to have big salads of cauliflower, broccoli, and cabbage with plenty of them in the night time,” she added. “They are not easily digestible and can induce stomach discomfort. Avoid having those big raw salads during night.
Do Not Eat Fruits at Dinner
Though fruits are healthy during the day, Shweta advises against eating them for dinner. “Fruits have active enzymes that can stimulate you and keep you awake, hence not such a great choice post-5 PM,” she said. Also, she pointed to the glucose spikes caused by fruits, which are not needed when your energy output reduces during nighttime. “You may assume you’re consuming fewer calories, but those sugars can convert into fat if not used for energy,” she added.
Limit Starchy Foods
Starchy foods like pasta and pizzas slow down digestion greatly, says the nutritionist. “A heavy dinner is usually unnecessary,” said Shweta. “Rather than starchy meals, have something like khichdi with kadi or horse gram broth, which are lighter but nourishing and do not make you feel heavy. Horse gram broth is especially nutritious, energizing, and an excellent one-pot meal choice.”
Taking thoughtful decisions regarding dinner can do wonders for your overall health, sleep, and digestion. Steer clear of raw salads, fruits after 5 PM, and starchy foods to form an evening meal that nourishes your body during rest. Consult your healthcare practitioner for advice on your specific requirements.
Note to Readers: This is a for-informational-article-only and should not be taken as a replacement for professional medical advice. Always refer to a healthcare practitioner with any questions about a medical condition.
