But instead of entirely revamping your diet, what if you focused on the timing of your meals?
More research is showingwhenyou eat might help with disease prevention and weight loss.
The concept is called “chrononutrition.”
Natalia Klenova / EyeEm / Getty Images
“It’s about the when, rather than the what.”
What Is Chrononutrition?
Eating on a schedule that better works with your natural rhythms benefits your wellbeing.
“This pattern of eating may also lead to improved sleep.”
This can be especially effective if you’re living with certain health conditions.
With time-restricted eating…we’re trying to reduce that eating window."
Hawley emphasizes that’s not the same thing as intermittent fasting.
Avoiding late-night meals, in particular, is an important component of chrononutrition.
According to Hawley, the body initiates a hormonal response any time you eat anything.
Whats more, late-night eating is linked to impaired metabolic function.
“In the evening, blood glucose levels are high,” Hawley said.
“Because you’re [likely] lying down and not doing anything, it stays elevated.
By moving evening meals in earlier, time-restricted eating helps lower that nocturnal glucose profile.”
In other words, whatand how muchyou eat matters most, Young said.
If you have to eat later than usual, consider what you eat.
Hawley said carbohydrate-rich and fatty foods are not ideal for late-night meals and opting for protein is better.
“Its incredible that thats currently lacking, but it is.”
The idea is to align your eating with your circadian rhythms so your body better metabolizes your food.
While eating within a window is important, experts say its also key to eat well-balanced meals.
National Institute of General Medical Sciences.Circadian rhythms.
2016;75(4):475-486. doi:10.1017/S0029665116000239
