It’s not what you eat but when you eat

FOR years those seeking a healthier lifestyle have lived by the mantra: “You are what you eat.”

Now it seems we need to take on board another: “You are when you eat.”

Researchers said more studies were needed to better understand the effect of when we eat on public health, “particularly with the rise of shift work and social jet lag”, which occurs when workers have a different sleeping pattern at the weekend.

In two papers, published in the journal Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, scientists examined different eating habits, reviewing a number of dietary studies. They found that eating inconsistently might affect one’s body clock, which typically follows a 24-hour cycle.

The scientists from King’s College London, Newcastle University and the University of Surrey said a number of studies had shown that people working shifts have an increased risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome. For shift work, changes in eating patterns are therefore an important area for future research. The discrepancy between one’s internal body clock and social clock has been linked to a greater risk of diseases, while shorter periods of sleep have been linked to weight gain.

Gerda Pot, of King’s College London, said: “While we have a better understanding of what we should be eating, we are still left with the question as to which meal should provide us with the most energy.” – Daily Mail