Kashmir’s Gut Health Emergency

Kashmir’s deeply rooted habit of eating late is clashing with the body's biological clock, fuelling digestive disease and long-term health decline.

- Amaar Mir

Dinner in Kashmir often begins when the body asks for rest.

Families gather late, especially in winter, and meals arrive rich with rice, meat, oil and spice. Chats run deep into the night. Soon after eating, many people head straight to bed.

This pattern feels customary and cultural. It also drives a growing wave of digestive illness that now touches almost every household.

The human digestive system runs on an internal clock. Scientists describe this as the circadian cycle. This clock directs enzyme secretion, gut movement, hormone levels and metabolic efficiency.

Digestion performs best during daylight and early evening. A heavy meal at 10 or 11 p.m. pushes the stomach and intestines into action during a phase meant for slowing down. The body works against its own timing.

That clash leads to bloating, acidity, gas and persistent discomfort.

These symptoms appear mild at first. Repetition turns them into chronic disease. Continuous late eating injures gut integrity and disturbs the microbiome.

The microbiome supports digestion, immunity and even mental clarity. When it weakens, the entire body feels the strain.

Doctors in Kashmir now report rising cases of chronic gastritis, irritable bowel disorders and long-term constipation. Many patients describe years of late dinners followed by immediate sleep.

The harm deepens once a person lies down after eating. Gravity helps move food through the digestive tract while we remain upright. Lying flat removes that support.

The lower esophageal sphincter, which acts as a valve between stomach and food pipe, may lose effectiveness under pressure. Stomach acid then travels upward. Heartburn, chest discomfort, throat irritation and headaches follow.