Health
Best time for Thanksgiving dinner: Nutritionists give recommendations for proper digestion
The time of day you sit down for Thanksgiving dinner could have a wider effect on your health.
The timing of the meal can make “all the difference for your digestion,” Los Angeles-based registered dietitian nutritionist Ilana Muhlstein told Fox News Digital.
Somewhere between 3:30 and 5:00 p.m. is the “sweet spot,” she said.
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“If the meal is too early, say 2 p.m., people tend to linger around the table for hours, leading to multiple helpings of each course just to pass the time,” she noted.
“On the other hand, eating too late — like 5:30 p.m. or later — can backfire if people skip meals throughout the day.”
“By having Thanksgiving dinner between 3:30 and 5:00 p.m. and closing the eating window within two hours, you can strike the perfect balance between savoring the meal, enjoying the day and feeling good afterward,” an expert advised. (iStock)
Waiting until later to eat often results in “overeating at dinner, feeling uncomfortably stuffed and struggling with digestion or regret,” Muhlstein cautioned.
The expert suggests limiting the time you are eating to no more than two hours — and that includes any appetizers or charcuterie.
“Enjoy your Thanksgiving dinner mindfully, savoring each bite and listening to your body’s cues.”
“If you start with cheese, crackers, chips, dips and wine right away, your eating window can stretch to three or four hours, making it more likely that you’ll overindulge,” she said.
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“Instead, try focusing on drinking water or a seasonal tea, like pumpkin or cinnamon, for the first hour of mingling — then go right into the main course,” Muhlstein suggested.
“This way, you’ll have plenty of time to enjoy a substantial Thanksgiving meal and dessert without overdoing it.”
Experts suggest eating a balanced meal before Thanksgiving dinner to prevent overeating later. (iStock)
Jessica Sepel, clinical nutritionist and founder of JSHealth Vitamins, told Fox News Digital in a separate conversation that the timing is less important than how you approach the meal itself.
Sepel, who is also based in Los Angeles, does suggest eating the main meal before 9:00 p.m., which will allow the body to “digest properly before winding down for the night.”
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Beyond timing, Sepel recommends a few more options to support good digestion and overall well-being on Thanksgiving.
This includes sipping fennel or ginger tea before or after the meal to support digestion.
“These herbs are fantastic for easing bloating and helping your system process a heavier meal,” she said.
“Nourishment is about balance, and there’s room to enjoy the festivities without compromising your well-being,” a nutritionist said. (iStock)
The expert also suggests balancing meals throughout the day to ensure adequate protein and nourishment and to prevent overeating.
“Enjoy your Thanksgiving dinner mindfully, savoring each bite and listening to your body’s cues,” she advised.
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“Nourishment is about balance, and there’s room to enjoy the festivities without compromising your well-being.”
Feeling over-stuffed?
It’s easy to overeat on Thanksgiving when there is a plethora of delicious food.
Eating too much at once and not allowing for proper digestion can “overwhelm our system, leading to bloating, indigestion or even fatigue,” according to Jamie Maitland, certified holistic nutritionist, author of “21-Day Reset Cookbook” and founder of The Office Health.
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“A big holiday meal can be rich in fats, carbs, sugar and protein — and while that’s all delicious, it’s important to give your body the space to process everything,” she told Fox News Digital.
Florida-based Maitland — who recommends eating between 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. for the digestive system to function at its best — offered a few additional tips for aiding digestion.
Experts recommend slowing down and chewing each bite thoroughly to help digestion. (iStock)
“One tip is to slow down — savor each bite, rather than eating like it’s your last meal,” she advised.
“Chewing thoroughly not only helps with digestion, but also gives your body time to signal when it’s full, so you don’t overeat.”
“It’s important to give your body the space to process everything.”
Maitland also recommends drinking water throughout the day to support the breakdown of food and to prevent bloating.
Another way to support digestion is to incorporate movement after the meal, which could be as simple as taking a walk or playing a family game, she added.
“Movement helps stimulate the digestive system and keeps things moving, so you can avoid the ‘food coma’ feeling,” Maitland said.
“It doesn’t have to be a structured workout — get creative and don’t underestimate the power of a little stroll.”
New flu strain emerging as a severe health threat
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A new form of the flu, which is highly contagious and aggressive, is sweeping the nation this season.
A mutation of influenza A H3N2, called subclade K, has been detected as the culprit in rising global cases, including in the U.S.
The World Health Organization stated on its website that the K variant marks “a notable evolution in influenza A (H3N2) viruses,” which some say calls into question the effectiveness of this season’s influenza vaccine against the strain.
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The K variant causes more intense flu symptoms, including fever, chills, headache, fatigue, cough, sore throat and runny nose, according to experts.
Multiple states in the northeast are reporting high rates of respiratory illness this month. (iStock)
Among 216 influenza A(H3N2) viruses collected since Sept. 28, 89.8% belonged to subclade K, a CDC report states.
The agency continues to release a weekly influenza surveillance report, tracking which states are seeing the most activity for outpatient respiratory illness.
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Below are the states and regions within the highest range of reported medical visits, not necessarily confirmed influenza cases, as of the week ending Dec. 13.
The CDC’s weekly influenza surveillance report, an outpatient respiratory illness activity map, based on data reported to ILINet for the week ending Dec. 13, 2025. (CDC FluView)
Very High (Level 1)
Very High (Level 2)
Very High (Level 3)
- New Jersey
- Rhode Island
- Louisiana
- Colorado
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High (Level 1)
- Massachusetts
- Connecticut
- Michigan
- Idaho
- South Carolina
High (Level 2)
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High (Level 3)
- Washington, D.C.
- Maryland
- North Carolina
- Georgia
The CDC has estimated that there have been at least 4.6 million illnesses, 49,000 hospitalizations and 1,900 flu deaths this season so far. The flu vaccine is recommended as the best line of defense against the virus.
The flu vaccine is recommended as the best line of defense against the virus. (iStock)
In an interview with Fox News Digital, Dr. Neil Maniar, professor of public health practice at Boston’s Northeastern University, shared details on the early severity of this emerging flu strain.
“It’s becoming evident that this is a pretty severe variant of the flu,” he said. “Certainly, in other parts of the world where this variant has been prevalent, it’s caused some severe illness, and we’re seeing an aggressive flu season already.”
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Subclade K is the “perfect storm” for an aggressive flu season, Maniar suggested, as vaccination rates overall are down, and it’s uncertain whether this year’s flu vaccine directly addresses this specific mutation.
“The vaccine is very important to get, but because it’s not perfectly aligned with this variant, I think that’s also contributing to some degree to the severity of cases we’re seeing,” he said. “We’re going in [to this flu season] with lower vaccination rates and a variant that in itself seems to be more aggressive.”
Subclade K has “caused some severe illness, and we’re seeing an aggressive flu season already,” a doctor said. (iStock)
Maniar stressed that it’s not too late to get the flu vaccine, as peak flu season has not yet arrived.
“The vaccine still provides protection against serious illness resulting from the subclade K variant that seems to be going around,” he said. “There are likely to be lots of indoor gatherings and other events that create risk of exposure, so protection is important.”
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Even healthy individuals can become seriously ill from the flu, Maniar noted, “so a vaccine is beneficial for almost everyone.”
“Individuals typically start to develop some degree of protection within a few days and gain the full benefit within about two weeks, so now is the time for anyone who hasn’t gotten the vaccine yet.”
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Former U.S. Sen. Ben Sasse of Nebraska announced this week that he has been diagnosed with metastatic stage 4 pancreatic cancer, calling the disease “a death sentence” in a message posted on X.
Sasse, 53, said the cancer has spread and acknowledged that he has “less time than I’d prefer,” although he also mentioned recent scientific advances and his intention to pursue treatment.
“I’m not going down without a fight,” Sasse said when revealing his diagnosis. “One sub-part of God’s grace is found in the jaw-dropping advances science has made the past few years in immunotherapy and more.”
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Pancreatic cancer is known to be one of the deadliest forms of cancer, with ongoing research efforts aiming to improve outcomes.
Below are six key things to know about the disease.
No. 1: Pancreatic cancer is often diagnosed late and is highly deadly
Pancreatic cancer is notoriously aggressive and difficult to treat, according to the American Cancer Society. Most patients are not diagnosed until the disease has already spread to other organs, largely because there aren’t reliable screening tests and early symptoms can be vague or absent.
Ben Sasse, a former U.S. senator from Nebraska, announced that he has been diagnosed with metastatic stage 4 pancreatic cancer. (Getty Images; iStock)
The ACS estimates that 67,440 Americans will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2025, and about 51,980 are expected to die from it. The tumor’s biology creates physical and chemical barriers that reduce the effectiveness of many traditional treatments.
No. 2: New immunotherapies are showing early promise
Researchers at UCLA recently reported progress on an experimental, off-the-shelf, cell-based immunotherapy designed to attack pancreatic cancer.
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In mouse studies, the therapy slowed tumor growth, extended survival and remained effective even after the cancer had spread to other organs, such as the liver and lungs.
The treatment uses special immune cells called natural killer T (NKT) cells, which are genetically modified so they can specifically recognize and attack pancreatic cancer cells.
Early research is exploring new approaches to pancreatic cancer, including experimental immunotherapies and studies of risk factors, but many findings are still in preclinical or observational stages. (iStock)
Unlike personalized therapies, the NKT cells are naturally compatible with different immune systems and can be mass-produced from donor stem cells.
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Researchers estimate that one donor could supply cells for thousands of treatments, with a potential cost of around $5,000 per dose. All testing so far has been done in mice, and human trials have not yet begun.
No. 3: Diet and gut health may affect treatment recovery
Separate research from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology has suggested that the amino acid cysteine could help the gut heal after cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiation.
In mouse studies, cysteine — found in foods like meat, eggs, dairy products, legumes and nuts — helped to regenerate intestinal stem cells that are often damaged during cancer therapy.
Researchers are studying how diet, including nutrients such as cysteine found in high-protein foods, may help support recovery from pancreatic cancer treatments. (iStock)
Additional unpublished research showed benefits after treatment with 5-fluorouracil, a chemotherapy drug used for colon and pancreatic cancers.
Researchers emphasized that human studies are still needed and that cysteine is not a cure for cancer itself.
No. 4: Alcohol and lifestyle factors may raise cancer risk
Recent research published in PLOS Medicine by the International Agency for Research on Cancer found that alcohol consumption is associated with an increased risk of pancreatic cancer.
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The study followed 2.5 million people for about 16 years, finding that each additional 10 grams of ethanol consumed per day was linked to a 3% increase in risk. Higher intake levels were associated with greater risk, particularly with beer and spirits.
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Researchers noted that the study was observational and that more work is needed to understand lifetime drinking patterns.
No. 5: Symptoms are often subtle and easily missed
When symptoms do occur, they can include abdominal pain that spreads to the sides or back, loss of appetite and unexplained weight loss, according to Mayo Clinic.
Some patients develop jaundice — yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes — along with light-colored or floating stools, dark urine and itching.
Common warning signs of pancreatic cancer can include abdominal pain, unexplained weight loss and loss of appetite. (iStock)
Other possible signs include a new diagnosis of diabetes (or diabetes that becomes harder to control), pain and swelling in an arm or leg that may be linked to a blood clot, and persistent tiredness or weakness.
Those who are experiencing symptoms should consult with a healthcare professional.
No. 6: Age, genetics and health conditions can raise risk
Pancreatic cancer risk is influenced by a combination of genetic, medical and lifestyle factors.
The disease becomes more likely with age, and men are slightly more susceptible, according to the ACS. Those with a family history or inherited genetic mutation also have a higher risk, as do people with type 2 diabetes, obesity and lack of physical activity.
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Diets high in processed or red meats and low in fruits and vegetables, as well as high alcohol consumption, may also contribute to pancreatic cancer risk, along with some occupational chemical exposures, per multiple cancer agencies.
Experts note, however, that many people are diagnosed with the disease despite having no clear risk factors.
Deirdre Bardolf, Ashley J. DiMella, Alex Nitzberg and Angelica Stabile, all of Fox News Digital, contributed reporting.
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The first oral GLP-1 medication for weight loss has been approved for use in the U.S.
The Wegovy pill, from drugmaker Novo Nordisk, was cleared by the Food and Drug Administration to reduce excess body weight, maintain long-term weight reduction and lower the risk of major cardiovascular events.
Approval of the once-daily 25mg semaglutide pill was based on the results of two clinical trials — the OASIS trial program and the SELECT trial.
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The Wegovy pill demonstrated a mean weight loss of 16.6% in the OASIS 4 trial among adults who were obese or overweight and had one or more comorbidities (other medical conditions), according to a press release. In the same trial, one in three participants experienced 20% or greater weight loss.
The first oral GLP-1 medication for weight loss has been approved for use in the U.S. (iStock)
Novo Nordisk reported that the weight loss achieved with the pill is similar to that of injectable Wegovy and has a similar safety profile.
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“With today’s approval of the Wegovy pill, patients will have a convenient, once-daily pill that can help them lose as much weight as the original Wegovy injection,” said Mike Doustdar, president and CEO of Novo Nordisk, in the press release.
Novo Nordisk reported that the weight loss achieved with the pill is similar to that of injectable Wegovy and has a similar safety profile. (James Manning/PA Images via Getty Images)
“As the first oral GLP-1 treatment for people living with overweight or obesity, the Wegovy pill provides patients with a new, convenient treatment option that can help patients start or continue their weight-loss journey.”
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The oral GLP-1 is expected to launch in the U.S. in early January 2026. Novo Nordisk has also submitted oral semaglutide for obesity to the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and other regulatory authorities.
“Most side effects will be GI-related and should be similar to the injectable, such as nausea, vomiting and constipation,” an expert said. (iStock)
Dr. Sue Decotiis, a medical weight-loss doctor in New York City, confirmed in an interview with Fox News Digital that studies show oral Wegovy is comparable to the weekly injectable, just without the needles.
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Although the pill may result in better compliance and ease of use, Decotiis warned that some patients may not absorb the medication through the gastrointestinal tract as well as with the injectable version due to individual idiosyncrasies in the body.
“Most side effects will be GI-related and should be similar to the injectable, such as nausea, vomiting and constipation,” she said.
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“In my practice, I have found tirzepatide (Mounjaro and Zepbound) to yield more weight loss and fat loss than semaglutide by about 20%,” the doctor added. “This has been shown in studies, often [with] fewer side effects.”
More oral GLP-1s may be coming in 2026, according to Decotiis, including an Orforglipron application by Lilly and a new combination Novo Nordisk drug, which is pending approval later next year.
One expert warned that some patients may not absorb the medication through the gastrointestinal tract as well as with the injectable version. (iStock)
“There will be more new drugs available in the future that will be more effective for patients who are more insulin-resistant and have not responded as well to semaglutide and/or tirzepatide,” the doctor said. “This is great news, as novel drugs affecting more receptors mean better long-term results in more patients.”
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As these medications become cheaper and easier to access, Decotiis emphasized that keeping up with healthy lifestyle habits — including proper nutrition with sufficient protein and fiber, as well as increased hydration — is essential to ensuring lasting results.
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“If not, patients will regain weight and could lose muscle and not enough body fat,” she said.
Fox News Digital reached out to Novo Nordisk for comment.
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