Eating dinner past a certain time, particularly after 9pm, has been linked to a 28 percent increase in the risk of suffering a stroke, as revealed by a seven-year study involving over 100,000 participants. The study, conducted in France between 2009 and 2022, analyzed participants' mealtimes and found that those who ate before 8pm had better health outcomes.
The research, led by the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research, discovered that a significant portion of the participants who ate after 9pm experienced cardiovascular issues, including strokes. Dr. Bernard Srour, the senior author of the study, emphasized the potential health risks associated with late-night dining, especially for individuals, particularly women, who often eat later due to busy schedules.
The study also highlighted the human body’s natural inclination to process food during the day, as eating late can lead to increased blood sugar, blood pressure, and potential damage to blood vessels, consequently elevating the risk of blood clots and related cardiovascular events.
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While the findings suggest a correlation between late dinners and stroke risk, further research is essential to establish a definitive link. It is worth noting that maintaining a healthy diet remains a critical factor in overall cardiovascular health, and the study did not find a significant increase in the risk of other vascular diseases such as heart attacks, angina, and blocked arteries among those who ate after 9pm.
Published in the Nature Communications journal, the study also revealed that for every hour later someone had dinner, their odds of experiencing a stroke increased by eight percent. Similarly, the risk of various cardiovascular diseases went up by six percent for every hour later someone had breakfast.