“While the amount of calories, types of food consumed and late night timing all impact gut health, the timing of meals has the most potential negative effect on gut health,” Routhentstein said.
“This is because it follows a circadian rhythm, and when we eat late, it affects the way it optimally processes food. When we eat late at night, our digestive enzymes, gut motility, and insulin sensitivity are not working at its optimal capacity, regardless of what you ate,” she explained.
Dadigiri also emphasized the importance of meal timing consistency. Routhenstein agreed.
“One of the first foundation principles I work on with clients is meal timing consistency, helping them structure their eating within daylight hours aligned to their circadian rhythm for optimal cardiometabolic health,” she said.
“That’s exactly why I look at the full picture with every client, focusing on nutrient adequacy, food quality, meal timing, sleep, and stress load. These aren’t separate issues; they all influence each other, and you can’t optimize one while ignoring the rest,” she added.