Cutting out a common dinner food could ‘reduce risk of dying young’

Cutting down on just one food for dinner may be enough to reduce your risk of dying young if you have diabetes.

One study found that people who ate a lot of processed meat in the evening had a significantly higher risk of heart disease.

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This means diabetics – around five million people in the UK – could live longer if they cut out foods like pies and hot dogs at dinner.

The fat in British favorites can cause blood vessels to swell and increase heart rate, putting extra pressure on the heart overnight when it needs to rest, the study says.

Processed meat includes foods like bacon, burgers, ham, ready-to-eat, nuggets and pepperoni – but not home-processed meats like steak or ribs.

The study adds, ideally, people should eat green vegetables with a glass of milk at dinner to promote health.

Dr Qingrao Song, Harbin Medical University, China, said: “Nutrition guidelines for diabetes should include optimal consumption timing for future foods.

“We found that eating potatoes in the morning, whole grains in the afternoon, green vegetables and dairy in the evening, and less processed meat in the evening was associated with longer-term survival in those have diabetes.”

Dr. Song added that the time people eat certain foods is just as important as portion sizes.

The study used data from 4,642 Americans with diabetes and compared their diets to their long-term health.

It found that people who ate the most processed meat in the evening had a 74% higher risk of dying from heart disease than average.

Research published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism also found a higher heart risk for late-night eaters of white bread, dough and pastries.