The Best Times To Eat Meals Throughout The Day
It may seem logical to just eat whenever you want during the day, and while that's valid to a degree, as you don't want to deny your body food when you're truly hungry, it's also a good idea to avoid mindless eating. Eating mindlessly, especially at a time of day that isn't as beneficial, can throw off your body's internal clock and also hinder any weight loss journey you decide to embark on.
Dr. Raj Dasgupta, Chief Medical Advisor at the National Council on Aging, recently spoke to GB News all about the best and worst times to start eating each day, and how important it is to follow your body's natural rhythm.
"Following your natural body clock could lead to the best results," he noted. "Meal timing can influence your weight loss efforts."
Dr. Dasgupta adds that "eating in alignment with your body's natural clock" and "having a hearty breakfast and a lighter dinner might help" with slimming down and getting rid of cravings that bug you throughout the day.
What Time Of Day You Should Avoid Eating
As Dr. Dasgupta points out, for the sake of your metabolism and waistline, it's best to follow your body's natural clock, meaning that eating a healthy, hearty breakfast when you wake up and a lighter, nutritious dinner a few hours before bed is a good routine to follow. It also suggests that you should space out your meals evenly instead of eating one big meal at the start or end of the day.
This also means that it's not such a good idea to eat when your body begins winding down at the end of the day, which often takes form in late-night snacking.
"Avoid eating late at night and try to evenly space out your meals to manage hunger better and boost your metabolism," instructs Dr. Dasgupta.
Eating late at night is a notoriously poor habit, as cravings past dinnertime often come about when you really should be going to bed but are up too late, making them harder to ignore. Additionally, your digestive system slows down at night, so eating too late can cause some stomach irritation and indigestion.
No one is perfect, and if you need to eat at unconventional times every once in a while, it's understandable. But following a steadier eating routine based on your circadian rhythm will set you up for success.
"To boost your fat-burning potential, include foods in your diet that are high in protein, fibre and healthy fats," adds Dr. Dasgupta. "Add fibre-rich foods such as vegetables, fruits, legumes, and whole grains to your meals. Include healthy fats from avocados, nuts, seeds, and a bit of olive oil."