Study: Mealtime can be as important as what you eat

When it comes to eating healthy, the old saying “you are what you eat” seems to be missing an important part. New research shows that when you eat may be as important as the type of food you eat, it can have a huge impact on improving metabolism, weight and overall health. .

Scientific eating time

Nutrition is an emerging area of ​​research.

Our body’s biological clock works according to circadian rhythms and controls many physiological processes in the 24-hour menstrual cycle, including digestion, hunger and metabolism, and regulates sleep, energy levels and body temperature.

Feeding time studies the body’s response to eating at different times of the day Research methods include time-restricted eating, fasting, meal consistency and specific eating times.

Emily Feivor, a registered dietitian at Forest Hills Jewish Hospital in Long Island, New York, told The Epoch Times that it’s important to plan a nutritionally balanced diet according to the 24-hour biological clock, which helps improving glucose and insulin response, balancing hormones such as cortisol and leptin. Adds Less, “Doing so will help you control your blood sugar and manage your weight more effectively.”

One study showed that people who eat lunch later lose less weight than those who eat it earlier.

The potential for health in relation to feeding time

Research into nutritional timing holds the promise of finding new ways to prevent or treat chronic diseases such as obesity, heart disease, hypertension and diabetes. Last month, the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics published a special issue that included new research in the field, reinforcing the idea that when you eat is just as important as what you eat

One study identifies late time-restricted eating (LTRE), which is eating within an eight-hour window of the day – all eating between 12:00 noon and 8:00 pm without calorie counting ——Can significantly improve the health status of patients with type 2 diabetes.

“Many teenagers tend to go to bed later and wake up later, so breakfast time may not match their developmental and social schedules, often pushing their feeding time.” until later in the day,” Vidmar, associate professor, board-certified pediatric obesity medicine specialist and principal investigator, said in a news release.

Vidmar noted that the results of clinical trials show that evening eating with time restrictions is safe and appropriate for the group of adolescents studied. This type of diet leads to significant weight loss, improved liver health, and lower calorie intake without affecting sleep, eating habits, or physical activity.

Advice from obesity experts

Dr. Shiara Ortiz-Pujols, an obesity medicine specialist at the Department of Surgery at Staten Island University Hospital in New York, said in an interview with The Epoch Times that it is better not to eat too late or eat more less in the evening. She noted that people who typically eat their biggest meals later in the day, especially at dinner, are at higher risk for weight management problems.

As the day progresses, our body’s rhythms naturally slow down, which affects digestion and metabolism. Ortiz-Pujols said that factors such as age, gender and level of physical activity affect our food needs.

In addition, our daily physical activity levels also affect our body’s calorie needs.

“People who are more active need more calories than people who are more sedentary,” Ortiz-Pujols said, “That’s why many people who were athletes when they were younger get older , when they no longer maintain high levels of activity, they age. continue to eat as they did when they were athletes, leading to weight gain.”

Nutritional needs vary from person to person, and what works for some may not work for others as everyone’s needs, preferences and lifestyles are not only different but also change over time.

Dr. Ortiz-Pujols noted that conversations about nutrition often focus on what not to eat​​​​​​and how difficult a restrictive diet is in the long term. She said, “In fact, we should focus on diversifying our diet, including including proteins, fats, carbohydrates, fruits and vegetables, and learning more about to include better choices in our diet. “

Many people find it difficult to accept the recommendation to eat solid food in the morning. “For these people, I often recommend a protein shake so they can start the day with protein without eating solid food,” Ortiz-Pujols said.

For the English report, see the English version of The Epoch Times:When you eat may be as important as what you eat.

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