Timing of meals is becoming increasingly recognized as a very important part of diet planning. Conventional nutrition consulting addresses food selection, cooking, meal composition, and calories consumed. Little attention is afforded to the most important topic, which is the proper time to enjoy meals.
Our digestive system and the microbiome that populates it respond harmoniously to cues from pacemakers in the central nervous system that dictate hormonal rhythms and regulate organ function. Dawn breaks with surges in hormones that signal preparation for nutrient delivery to the gut. As midday passes and the sun prepares to set , so does our digestive system, which shifts to 'housekeeping' mode. Late 'deliveries' (meals) complicate digestion and challenge the liver, which is forced to store rather than process nutrients.
Our article on 'Chrononutrition' , recently published in Diabetes Spectrum, focuses on the importance of this concept in the management of diabetes mellitus. The surges in blood glucose generated by late dinner persist into the next morning, while the liver suffers swelling and cellular damage. Medications cannot address the driving forces in this metabolic derangement process. Timing meals to the 4 AM - 4 PM window can.
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