The Impact of Meal Timing on Cardiovascular Health

If you are one of those people who eat breakfast and dinner before eight in the morning and in the evening, we have good news for you. And for those who don’t, don’t worry, you can do better, because a recent study by the French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and the Environment (NRAE) showed that the first meal should be eaten after 9 am. It is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, with the risk increasing by six percent for every hour of delay.

Breakfast and Dinner Timing: A Crucial Factor

The study involved 4,444 of a sample of more than 100,000 people followed between 2009 and 2022. Researchers found that eating a late breakfast or dinner is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. In addition, longer overnight fasting appears to be associated with a reduced risk of cerebrovascular disease such as stroke.

Study by the French National Research Institute

Eating dinner after 21:00 showed a 28 percent increase in the risk of cerebrovascular disease, especially stroke, compared to eating before 20:00, especially in women. The results suggest that meal timing may play a role in reducing cardiovascular disease. However, further studies with alternative methods and different groups of participants are needed to confirm these findings. The study found that a longer overnight fasting period and choosing an earlier breakfast and dinner can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Dr. Vinoth, Consultant Cardiology, CARE Hospitals, Hitec City, Hyderabad, as dietary habits play a vital role in cardiovascular health. Irregular eating habits can disrupt circadian rhythms .”A diet high in saturated fat, cholesterol, and sodium can contribute to conditions such as high blood pressure and atherosclerosis, which increase the risk of cardiovascular disease,” he said. The timing of meals can affect cardiovascular health because of circadian rhythms, the 24-hour internal clock that regulates the sleep-wake cycle.

Research shows that aligning eating habits with the body’s internal clock can improve metabolism and reduce stress on the cardiovascular system. As such, you can follow a circadian diet, which is an eating plan designed to support the body’s natural circadian rhythm, hormone production, and other bodily functions. This diet is based on the idea that by eating at certain times of the day, we can optimize our metabolism and improve our overall health. Consistent meal timing can help regulate metabolism and blood sugar, which promotes overall health. “Irregular eating patterns can disrupt circadian rhythms, which over time can lead to weight gain, insulin resistance and other health problems,” added Dr. Vinoth.

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