Due to busy work schedules, many people eat a perfunctory lunch and have a hearty dinner. Some even go so far as to "reward" their "wronged" stomachs with a late-night drink and barbecue for a satisfying late-night snack. Little do they know, this eating habit of "not eating well at noon and making up for it at night" lays the groundwork for gastrointestinal tumors.
Dr. Bu Zhaode, Deputy Chief Physician of the Surgery Department at Beijing Cancer Hospital, explains that the development of gastrointestinal tumors is particularly closely related to diet. Eating dinner too late or too excessively, or consuming fried, pan-fried, or grilled foods at night, can加重 the burden on the gastrointestinal tract and adversely affect the gastric mucosa, thereby increasing the risk of stomach cancer. This is because the lifespan of gastric mucosal epithelial cells is short and they are updated quickly. This repair and regeneration process mostly occurs when the gastrointestinal tract is at rest at night. If dinner is unsuitable, the gastrointestinal tract cannot get proper rest, and its mucosal repair process cannot proceed smoothly. Furthermore, eating a large amount of food before bed does not conform to the body's natural life cycle. This not only increases the burden on the stomach but also affects sleep and can easily lead to obesity. It may also cause gastric mucosal congestion, erosion, and ulcers. Once resistance decreases, it can easily lead to stomach cancer.
In addition, foods that are fried, grilled, pan-fried, or cured produce some carcinogenic substances during their processing. If consumed excessively in the evening, these carcinogens will remain in the stomach for a long time, making it more likely to adversely affect the gastric mucosa and increase the chances of developing stomach cancer.
So, what and how should one eat for a healthy and reasonable dinner? Dr. Bu Zhaode recommends: Dinner should not be too rich and greasy. Carbohydrates should be consumed in moderation, and more vegetables and fruits rich in vitamins and fiber should be eaten. Try to avoid fried, pan-fried, and grilled foods, and do not drink baijiu (Chinese liquor). It is also important to control the amount of food intake; eight-tenths full is sufficient. After dinner, engage in some light exercise to speed up digestion and absorption.