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Introduction: “No food after noon,” this is not just a casual joke, it truly concerns the health of our middle-aged and elderly! Listen, the other day, Er’ya saw a slightly haggard big brother in the outpatient department holding a medical examination report, his brows furrowed.
After hearing about the situation, it turned out that this big brother, three years ago, heard somewhere that “no food after noon” can promote longevity and diligently followed it, turning dinner into a luxury. I couldn’t help but wonder, can health preservation be generalized like this?
01 No food after noon, ancient yet not modern
Let’s first talk about the origin of “no food after noon.” It originated from the Buddhist practice aimed at reducing desires and purifying the body and mind. However, traditional Chinese medicine emphasizes the unity of heaven and man, and harmony with nature, including in diet. The Yellow Emperor’s Inner Classic states: “Grains for nourishment, fruits for assistance, livestock for benefit, vegetables to supplement.” It emphasizes balanced diet and season-appropriate food. No food after noon may not necessarily be suitable for modern people with busy lifestyles and different constitutions.
02 Stomach’s “protest letter”
Returning to the big brother, after three years of skipping dinner, his stomach suffered. In traditional Chinese medicine, it is said “no harmony in the stomach, no peace in rest.” The stomach is the foundation of postnatal life and requires timely and adequate nourishment. Long-term fasting at dinner leaves the stomach without food to digest, yet stomach acid is still secreted, leading to damage to the stomach mucosa, and conditions like gastritis and ulcers may develop. Those abnormal indicators in the medical report are like the stomach silently protesting, aren’t they?
03 Dinner wisdom from the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine
In fact, dinner is not a monster; the key lies in how you eat. Traditional Chinese medicine suggests that dinner should be “small but refined,” avoiding greasy heavy flavors and choosing easily digestible, fiber-rich foods like millet congee, vegetable salads, which not only won’t burden the stomach but will also provide necessary nutrients for the body. Additionally, dinner should not be too late, preferably before 7 p.m., to allow the stomach enough rest time.
04 The way of health lies in balance
Health preservation, like tending to flowers, requires careful nurturing and maintaining balance. No food after noon may be a form of practice for some people, but for the majority, especially middle-aged and elderly, blindly following trends will backfire. What we need to do is find the right balance based on our constitution and lifestyle.
05 Health tips, the wisdom of dinner
Moderation is key: Dinner should not be overly filling, being 70-80% full is just right, not burdening the stomach and fulfilling the body’s energy needs.
Timing matters: Try to finish dinner before 7 p.m., allowing enough time for digestion, and avoiding sleep disturbances.
Choose wisely: Dinner should be light, choose easily digestible, fiber-rich foods like vegetables, whole grains, avoiding greasy and heavy flavors.
Maintain a calm mood: Maintain a pleasant mood while eating, chew slowly, enjoy the pleasure of food; this is also a way of health preservation.
Individual differences: Everyone has different constitutions and lifestyles, so health preservation methods should also vary. There’s no need to blindly follow trends; finding the right path for oneself is crucial.
Friends, health is not a passing fad, it requires sustained attention to every detail of life. Dinner, as an important meal of the day, deserves our careful consideration. I hope today’s sharing can inspire you and let’s walk further on the path of health together, enjoying a healthy and happy life.
