New Delhi: Cardiologist and functional medicine expert Dr Alok Chopra has stressed the importance of finishing dinner at least three hours before bedtime, saying it is critical in promoting the body’s natural repair and detox functions during sleep.
In a recent health advisory, Dr Chopra warned against the common habit of eating late at night and sleeping soon after. “Most people are eating their last meal and going straight to sleep. Stop that habit immediately,” he said, adding that such practices disrupt the body’s ability to rest and restore overnight.
He explained that sleep is a low-energy activity designed for internal healing, detoxification, and cellular repair, not digestion. A late-night meal forces the body to focus on breaking down food instead of carrying out essential rejuvenation processes.
Dr Chopra cited the example of older generations who often had dinner between 6 and 7 PM and avoided late-night snacking. He also noted that this practice has significant health benefits even outside intermittent fasting.
While three hours is the minimum recommended gap between dinner and sleep, he suggested four to six hours would be even better for long-term health.
