We all try to eat healthy – fruits, salads, home-cooked meals. But what if the problem isn’t what you eat, but when you eat it? Surprising, right? According to experts, eating at the wrong time can silently damage your body, even if your diet seems perfect.
In his recent video, health educator Prashant Desai from the Stanford School of Medicine shared some eye-opening facts about how timing your meals wrongly can harm your health more than you think.
Why Eating At The Wrong Time Can Make You Sick
Desai explains that you should never eat food “anytime you want.” When you eat at the wrong time, it disturbs your body’s natural rhythm and spreads illness in the body.
He warns against eating on an empty stomach, as it can create acidity. That acidity then disturbs your gut, and a disturbed gut can spread disease throughout your body. He adds, “Never eat fruits on an empty stomach.” When you do that, glucose and fructose from fruits get absorbed too quickly into the bloodstream. This causes a sudden spike in blood sugar, followed by a crash that leaves you tired and hungry again.
Why Late-Night Eating Is Dangerous
Desai also points out that eating heavy or fried food late at night (something students often do) can seriously harm digestion. At night, your body prepares for rest, and your enzymes become weaker. If you load your system with oily, heavy food, your digestion slows down, leading to bloating, gas, and discomfort.
He advises avoiding too many rotis, rice or carbs at night. In the evening, your body starts to slow down. Giving it heavy carbs increases glucose levels and forces your pancreas to produce extra insulin, which is a major reason behind metabolic problems.
Desai strongly discourages drinking fruit juice, calling it one of the unhealthiest drinks. He says, “It shouldn’t be consumed at any time.” Most packaged juices are filled with sugar and preservatives that harm your body instead of nourishing it. His advice is to throw such drinks out of your home.
Healthy eating isn’t just about eating the right food. It’s also about eating at the right time. So, the next time you reach for a snack late at night or skip a meal only to eat later, remember that timing matters as much as nutrition.
