To maintain fitness, not only what you eat is important, but also when you eat can affect the body. This is why interest in the relationship between meal timing and the body’s biological clock has grown in recent years. Tamil actress Varalaxmi Sarathkumar has come into discussion on this very topic.
Like many celebrities, she does not eat dinner late in the evening. The actress’s designated dinner time is 7:30 PM. She finishes her last meal of the day by that time. After that, she tries not to eat anything else.
Varalaxmi follows a similar discipline in her food choices as well. Her diet plan is modified as needed, based on the advice of a nutritionist. In a 2020 interview, the actress mentioned that she was having almond milk and watermelon for breakfast for a few days at that time. The list was changed again the following week.
She also has her own routine for exercise. Instead of exercising in the morning, she feels more comfortable working out in the afternoon. She reserves one day of the week for her favorite foods—on Sundays, she breaks the rules and enjoys her beloved meals.
In other words, her dietary habits include eating dinner at a fixed time, regular exercise, reserving a separate day for favorite foods, and modifying her diet plan as needed. Following a routine rather than strict prohibitions is one of the key characteristics of her fitness regimen.
What are the Benefits of Eating Dinner Early?
In nutrition and sleep research, meal timing is considered to be related to the body’s circadian rhythm or biological clock. The body’s metabolic activities also change in accordance with the light-dark cycle of the day. Generally, metabolism and digestion are more active during the day compared to night.
Therefore, finishing dinner a few hours before sleeping can be beneficial for some people. This allows the body some time for digestion after eating, and avoids the habit of going to bed immediately after a meal.
For many, this can reduce problems such as nighttime bloating, discomfort, or acid reflux. Additionally, eating meals at regular times, getting adequate sleep, and avoiding excessive food intake at night can be part of an overall healthy lifestyle.
However, there is no guarantee that eating dinner early will necessarily lead to weight loss. Total calorie intake, food quality, physical activity, sleep, and an individual’s age and physical condition are among multiple factors that influence weight and health.
Thus, adopting a habit like Varalaxmi’s—finishing dinner by evening—can be beneficial for some, but determining meal times according to one’s own lifestyle and physical needs is more important.