Due to busy work schedules, many people just get by with a quick lunch and then feast at dinner. What's more, to "reward" their "wronged" digestive systems, some even have a little drink and some barbecue for a late-night snack. Little do they know that this "make up for a bad lunch at dinner" eating habit lays the groundwork for gastrointestinal tumors.
Dr. Bu Zhaode, an associate chief physician of surgery at Beijing Cancer Hospital, explains that the development of gastrointestinal tumors is closely related to diet. Eating dinner too late or too excessively, or consuming fried, pan-fried, or grilled foods at night can place a heavy burden on the digestive system, adversely affect the gastric mucosa, and consequently increase the risk of stomach cancer. This is because the lifespan of gastric mucosal epithelial cells is short and they regenerate quickly. This repair and regeneration process mostly occurs when the gastrointestinal tract is at rest during the night. If dinner is inappropriate, the digestive system cannot get proper rest, and its mucosal repair process will be hindered. Furthermore, eating a large amount of food before sleep is contrary to the body's natural life cycle; it not only increases the burden on the digestive system but also affects sleep, and can easily lead to obesity. It may also cause congestion, erosion, and ulcers in the gastric mucosa. Once resistance is weakened, it can easily lead to stomach cancer.
In addition, during their processing, fried, grilled, pan-fried, and cured foods can produce some carcinogenic substances. Consuming too much of these at night means these carcinogens will remain in the stomach for extended periods, more easily causing adverse effects on the gastric mucosa and increasing the likelihood of developing stomach cancer.
So, what and how should one eat for a healthy and reasonable dinner? Dr. Bu Zhaode suggests: 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. Fried, pan-fried, and grilled foods should be avoided, as well as drinking baijiu (white liquor). It's also important to control the amount of food intake; being 80% full is sufficient. A bit of light exercise after dinner can help speed up digestion and absorption.