Late dinner may be associated with an increased risk of intestinal problems, especially in people with high stress levels. A study with more than 15,000 participants concluded that the combination of these two factors may affect bowel balance and increase symptoms such as diarrhea and constipation.
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19/06/2026
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O mealtime can influence intestinal health, especially for people living in great stress.
As reported in the newspaper Metropolis, a study released this year suggests that later dinner, when combined with chronic stress, may lead to a greater frequency of intestinal problems, such as constipation and diarrhea.
Data from more than 15,000 people in the study were analyzed. Participants who consumed more than 25% of the daily calories after 21h had high stress levels and were more prone to bowel function problems.
Main findings of the study
The researchers classified the consumption of more than 25% of the daily calories after 21h as nocturnal/late feeding. Chronic stress was estimated through indicators related to cardiovascular, metabolic and inflammatory health.
In people with higher stress levels and who usually ate later 39.3% had intestinal changes. In the group with lower stress levels and normal times, this percentage decreases to 23.2%.
People with more stress and who later ate also had a smaller diversity of bacteria in the intestine, an important indicator of the balance of the digestive system.
Recommendations from a gastroenterologist for a healthier intestine
Robert Burakoff is a gastroenterologist and signed an article for the Health website in which he made known some of the habits at night that will make him strengthen intestinal health.
1- Have a dinner based on the Mediterranean diet;
2- Finish eating 2 to 3 hours before bed;
3- Walk after dinner;
4- Have a cup of herbal tea;
5- Bet on a workout to relax;
6- Be consistent at bedtime;
7- Get enough sleep.
You can learn from the explanation of each of these recommendations in the following article: