Not eating or drinking anything after 9PM

For those who suffer from indigestion or heartburn or acid reflux or bloating (etc etc etc), and who wake up in the morning feeling nauseous or without an appetite, I have a suggestion: do not eat or drink anything after 9PM the night before. Not even herbal tea or fruit. Nothing except water.

It is not a hard and fast rule for me – we all have to go to dinners and parties and this rule particularly affects Persians, Israelis and other groups who like to eat late. I have read that we all should allow a two-hour window between eating/drinking and going to bed and the 9PM rule fits in with that. When other cultures around the world (Asia, Latin America, Europe) eat late, they also stay up late. In Los Angeles, not so much. Some take it even further: I read of a Russian film director in his 70’s who claims to have a 3PM rule – it seems to work for him.

At any rate, the explanation is simple: as we get older and as the day wanes, the stomach has greater challenges digesting food and drink and even herbal tea and fruit can sit in the stomach. If they are there all night, you never give your stomach a rest. Additional benefits can include weight loss.

My two cents.

Photo credit: Tekks/Wikipedia