Exploring the impact of meal timing on metabolic health, with insights from recent studies and expert endocrinologists on optimizing digestion and insulin sensitivity.
Emerging research reveals that when we eat may be just as important as what we eat for metabolic health and disease prevention.
The circadian connection: how our internal clock regulates metabolism
Chrono-nutrition is an emerging field that studies how the timing of food intake interacts with our circadian rhythms to influence health. The human body operates on a 24-hour cycle that regulates everything from hormone production to digestion,
explains Dr. Satchin Panda, a professor at the Salk Institute and author of ‘The Circadian Code’. His research, published in Cell Metabolism (2019), demonstrates that nearly 50% of our genes follow a daily rhythm, including those involved in metabolism.
Optimal timing for macronutrients
A 2021 study in Diabetes Care found that consuming carbohydrates earlier in the day resulted in better blood sugar control. Our data suggests the body processes carbs more efficiently in the morning when insulin sensitivity is naturally higher,
reported lead researcher Dr. Frank Scheer from Brigham and Women’s Hospital.
