Abdelrahman
Is It Unhealthy for Dinner to Be the Largest Meal of the Day?
Many people have heard the popular saying: “Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dinner like a pauper.” Nutrition experts generally agree that this advice is sound. However, it contrasts sharply with the eating patterns seen in the United States, where dinner often becomes the most substantial meal.
Marta Garaulet, a physiology professor from the University of Murcia in Spain, frequently observes American eating habits during her time in the U.S. She points out that many Americans lead busy lives, often delaying substantial meals until evening. This contrasts with dining traditions in Spain and other European nations, where lunch is traditionally the heaviest meal. In these cultures, dinners are typically light, consisting of items like vegetable or fish soup, a slice of bread with cheese, and a salad.
While researchers continue to explore how meal sizes and timing can affect health, they do agree on one point: making dinner your largest meal may not be the best practice, according to Dr. Garaulet.
The Importance of Meal Size and Timing
For years, nutrition researchers have concentrated on what people eat rather than when they eat it, leading to limited extensive studies on the health implications of meal timing. Nour Makarem, an assistant professor of epidemiology at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, notes that the existing studies reveal significant correlations. Individuals who consume a higher percentage of their daily calories in the evening are often at an increased risk for conditions like obesity, Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and elevated inflammation levels.
Frank A.J.L. Scheer, director of the medical chronobiology program at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, suggests that the body’s internal clock, which influences cell function, may play a key role in these effects.
In summary, while cultural habits vary, experts agree that limiting the size of your dinner could contribute to better health outcomes.
