JAKARTA - For many people, sweet snacks are often a small gift after going through a day's activities. This habit has been ingrained since childhood. Sugar food as a form of appreciation for the efforts that have been made. No wonder, sweet snacks often end the day with a satisfying feeling.
But there is an important question, does the time of eating sweet foods affect health? The answer is yes. It turns out, there are better times and also times to avoid enjoying sweet snacks.
Nutritionist and writer, Maya Feller explained that the body has a metabolic process that needs to work optimally to process sugar. Therefore, the time of consumption is an important factor.
"Ideally, eating sweet snacks should be done between lunch and dinner, and not too late at night, because remember, there is a metabolic process that needs to occur so that the body can process sugar properly," said Feller, quoted from the Huffpost page on Saturday, April 18, 2026.
This means the best time to enjoy a sweet snack is between lunch and dinner, or after a balanced main meal. At that time, the body is still active so that it can process sugar more efficiently.
On the other hand, eating sugary foods at night, especially before bed, is not a wise choice. When the body is less active, the ability of insulin to move sugar from the bloodstream into the cells becomes less optimal.
"If you just lie down and don't move much, you're not giving the insulin the help it needs to work well," explains Feller.
If this habit continues to be carried out, the body can be overwhelmed in processing sugar. The impact is not only increasing blood sugar levels, but also has the potential to interfere with sleep quality.
"Consuming sugar before bed can also make it more difficult to fall asleep, disrupt sleep, reduce sleep quality, and contribute to insulin resistance," he said.
However, this does not mean that sugar should be avoided completely. Feller stressed that sugar is still needed by the body as the main source of energy, especially for the brain.
"Sugar is basically a carbohydrate. Our body needs it. Sugar is the main source of energy for our brain. Without it, the body cannot function as it should," said Feller.
The key is balance. Eating a reasonable amount of sweet snacks at the right time will help the body stay healthy without having to sacrifice the little pleasures in life.
"One thing I want to emphasize is that this is not about all or nothing," Feller added.
"If you consume a little more sugar than planned, it doesn't mean it's all a failure," he added.
So, if you want to enjoy your favorite cake or snack, choose the right time in the afternoon or evening so that your body can process it optimally. That way, you can still enjoy the sweetness without sacrificing health and sleep quality.
The English, Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, and French versions are automatically generated by the AI. So there may still be inaccuracies in translating, please always see Indonesian as our main language. (system supported by DigitalSiber.id)
