Dinner, among the three meals of the day, should not be overlooked. Most people tend to eat casually or consume food that is too greasy, both of which are unhealthy. Only a reasonable dinner routine can lead to a healthy body. Below, the editor will tell you about six types of food that are not suitable for consumption at night.
I. Foods Not Suitable for Dinner
1. Eating ginger at night is like eating arsenic.
Ginger is inherently a warm food, with effects of dispelling cold, warming the body, warming the stomach, and promoting blood circulation. Eating ginger in the morning can accelerate blood circulation, clear the mind, refresh the spirit, and warm the entire body. However, eating ginger at night can overstimulate the body, affecting sleep and thus hindering the self-repair processes that should occur during sleep, causing unnecessary damage to the body.
2. For those with excess liver heat, milk is not suitable at night.
Drinking milk at night can exacerbate liver heat, which is detrimental to the body's nighttime detoxification. It can also cause a dry mouth and a desire to wake up for water in the middle of the night, which is not conducive to sleep. Furthermore, milk itself is an allergen, and drinking it at night can easily lead to indigestion and other issues.
3. Dessert after dinner is forbidden.
Many people enjoy eating dessert after dinner, feeling that a meal is incomplete without it. However, overly sweet and rich foods can easily burden the digestive system. On the other hand, the sugar in desserts is difficult to break down while the body is at rest, and it can be converted into fat, easily leading to obesity. Over the long term, this may also increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
4. Greasy foods should be avoided.
Greasy foods not only include fried foods but also animal organs with high cholesterol levels. After consuming these foods, the workload on the intestines, stomach, liver, gallbladder, and pancreas increases, and the central nervous system is stimulated, affecting sleep quality. People with high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and high cholesterol should especially strictly control their intake.
5. "Gas-producing foods" are not suitable at night.
Some foods produce a large amount of gas during digestion, leading to bloating. Examples include beans, cabbage, onions, corn, and bananas. Excessive bloating not only causes discomfort in the stomach and intestines but also affects sleep. Therefore, such foods should also be avoided as much as possible at night.
6. High-calcium foods at night can cause stones.
It is also not suitable to consume foods that are too high in calcium at dinner, such as dried shrimp and cartilaginous fish. As the five organs enter a resting state at night, the calcium from these foods can easily accumulate in the kidneys and urethra, leading to the formation of stones.
Although many people have relatively lavish dinners, for the sake of long-term health, we should still follow some necessary principles. While supplementing essential nutrients and filling our stomachs, it is crucial to allow the digestive system to fully absorb and rest to ensure a good night's sleep.
II. Recommended Dinner Diets
1. Light, low-fat, and easily digestible.
Dinner should be light. Pay attention to choosing low-fat and easily digestible foods, and do not eat too much. Excess nutrients at dinner, especially fats that cannot be consumed, will accumulate in the body, leading to obesity and affecting health. Eating dinner too late, for too long, or too much is detrimental to sleep, as it can easily cause indigestion and insomnia.
2. A vegetarian dinner is healthier.
Dinner should be primarily vegetarian, focusing on foods rich in vitamins and carbohydrates. You should especially consume more fresh vegetables and try to reduce excessive intake of protein and fatty foods. Dinner must be taken seriously, but it does not require large portions, nor should it be a feast of meat and fish. Dinner should include at least two types of vegetables to increase vitamin intake and provide fiber. Furthermore, the amount of refined flour can be reduced, and some coarse grains can be eaten appropriately. A small amount of fish can also be consumed. If you can go for a walk 40 minutes after dinner, it will be very beneficial for digestion and absorption.
3. Simple, measured, and with coarse grains as the main staple.
Compared to breakfast and lunch, dinner should be simpler. Generally, the energy provided by dinner should not exceed 30% of the total daily energy intake. While it's hard to resist unlimited dishes, ensure the intake of staple foods is "measured." Healthy adults should consume at least 300 grams of staple food per day, and the dinner portion can be appropriately reduced. On the other hand, when choosing staple foods, it is best to opt for coarse grains that are easy to digest and retain their nutrients well.