Myth vs Fact of Taking Supper
Dec 16, 2022 Prepared by Nutritionist Chen Yin
- Taking supper will lead to weight gain
The dilemma of “to eat or not to eat” is the problem as having the number on the weighing scale climbing up is always one of the top concerns people will take into consideration. There isn’t an absolute answer of yes or no as it is highly depending on the total calories intake within a day instead of the time of eating. There won’t be any changes for the calories and nutrition content of the food be it being eaten during daytime or night time. Hence, we should focus on the calories of the food rather than concerning if you should take supper as the key to avoid weight gain is the calories intake.
- The habit of taking supper frequently will increase the risk of getting chronic diseases
Same principle applies where the type of food we take plays a crucial role in our health status, regardless of the time of eating. We are what we eat. The unhealthy eating habits of consuming food high in sugar, salt, fats and calories regularly will definitely increase the risk of developing chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, arteriosclerosis etc.
Binge eating before bedtime regularly is not a wise move as it will burden our digestive system due to overloaded and prolonged hours of working of the gut. It is essential to ensure our digestive system are in good condition all the time as 70-80% of immune cells are housed in the gut.
Tips for Supper
- Low calories and sugar soymilk or multigrain beverage
- Low GI fruits such as apple, orange, peach and banana
- Salad with healthy dressings such as low fat and sugar yogurt and balsamic vinegar
- Avoid unhealthy choices such as pastry, fast food, desserts and snacks
