We’ve always believed that eating the right kind of food is the only way to keep us healthy. However, some studies also showed that our mealtime also plays an important part in our health. So, how does practising smart meal timing improve our health? Let’s count some its benefits.
- It Aids Weight Loss. You might’ve already heard of the phrase, “Eat breakfast like a queen, lunch like a princess, and dinner like a pauper.” Well, researchers said that following this advice is a smart move if you want to lose weight. Researches show that people who take most of their calories before 3 o’clock in the afternoon lose weight faster than those who indulge later in the day. Planning ahead for a three-meal-one-snack diet is what will help you reinforce sensible food choices, thus helping you lose weight better.
- It Makes Your Workout More Effective. You probably know that the food you eat before and after workout is crucial. Consuming carbs an hour prior to your work out is important as it helps in fuelling you up for rigid exercise. Reach for a whole wheat toast, or a yogurt and a fruit for a healthy carb meal. If you’re planning to perform an intense workout routine that will last for more than an hour, then supplement your meal with drinks like Gatorade to better rehydrate you and allow you to exercise longer. Once you’re done with your routine, consume carb-and-protein meal to replenish what you lost during workout.
- It Helps to Have Better Sleep. Studies showed that the food you eat at night plays a crucial role in setting the internal clock of your body. If you want to get a good night’s sleep, minimize your saturate fat intake and avoid eating dinner two to three hours before your bedtime. Eating foods that are rich in saturated fat, such as dairy products, pork, red meat and lamb, will only disrupt your circadian rhythm and prevent you from feeling sleepy at night. Consume lean proteins instead to get the sleep-inducing chemical tryptophan.
- It Boosts Fertility. If there is anyone who wants to nail down perfect meal timing, it would be the person who’s trying to conceive. Some studies show that women who are trying to conceive should start their day with a large breakfast and taper their food intake over the course of the day to improve their insulin sensitivity and increase their ovulation frequency – all of which can improve and impact their fertility. Changing the timing of your meals can also change how your hormones act minus the negative effects of fertility treatments.
- It Improves Your Mood. Experiencing dips in your blood sugar is what makes you feel grumpy and shaky. This is why researchers suggest consuming a good amount of carbohydrates to boost the serotonin levels, stimulating a good mood. For a healthy that combines fat and carbs, go for a slice of whole wheat bread with peanut butter, or a yogurt with granola bar.
Timing is everything, even with the foods that we eat. So practise smart meal timing to get the most out of the healthy foods that you eat and to improve your health as well.
