What, How, and When

I know what you eat and how you eat is important. But “when” you eat? What difference does that make?

The report of a pilot study led by Dr. Nour Makarem was published in the Journal of Nutritional Science. In a study of 112 woman (average age of 33), the researchers found that eating dinner before six pm could improve heart health, lower the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, and reduce the chance of gaining weight. Participants who ate a large portion of their daily calories after six pm had higher blood pressure, higher BMI, and poorer blood sugar control. The risk of heart disease increases for every one percent increase in calories consumed in the evening after six pm. Dr. Makarem pointed out that lifestyle approaches to the prevention of heart disease have focused on what a person eats and how much. Based on this preliminary study, when you eat may be a simple, modifiable behavior that can help lower heart disease risk.