health
A game-changer for good health? Scientists believe ‘we are when we eat’
Decades of advice on what to eat and what not to might have been missing one key ingredient, according to new research
TL;DR
- Traditional dietary advice focuses on what and how much to eat, but new research highlights the importance of meal timing.
- A meta-analysis of 41 studies found that early or mid-time restricted eating (finishing meals before 5 pm or 7 pm) improved body weight, BMI, body fat, waist circumference, blood pressure, and metabolic markers.
- These improvements occurred even without a reduction in overall calorie intake, suggesting an independent effect of eating timing.
- The body manages sugar better earlier in the day due to hormonal secretion patterns, leading to less impact from food intake in the morning and afternoon compared to the evening.
- Social and practical challenges exist in adhering to early eating schedules in modern life.