We all try to get at least three meals a day – two for the breakfast skippers. Eating food not only restores energy and focus, but is necessary for our bodies to function efficiently. Paying close attention when you’re hungry, when you’re full, and what you’re craving is a vital part of intuiting your own health, but growing research shows those aren’t the only cues to watch for. Our bodies have something called the circadian rhythm – a regulatory cycle that helps us know when to eat, when to sleep, when we’re too hot or cold, etc. It times the release of hormones, influences mental clarity and brain fog, powers the metabolism, and optimizes digestion. If you work against this internal system with what and when you eat, your body could be at risk for weight, hormone, and metabolism dysfunction.
The Body’s Internal Clock
Naturally, if you skip meals, it’s going to be very difficult for your body to function properly. Whether or not you physically feel hungry, skipping or missing meals puts your body in a state of starvation. A starved body will be hardwired to store fat, ration energy, and binge eat when food is present. As aforementioned, there are many processes that run on the circadian rhythm, including your appetite and digestion. The rhythm determines how you metabolize protein, carbs, fats, fibers, and sugars. By eating abnormally, you force your body to work against itself, promoting weight gain, the mismanagement or malabsorption of nutrients, moodiness, and fatigue; among other things like diabetes, obesity, hormone imbalances, and other serious conditions.
How to Fix Your Circadian Rhythm
How do you get your internal clock working correctly again? Evidence shows that eating earlier in the day helps control blood sugar and kickstart the metabolism. From there, pay attention to your hunger cues. Eat when you are hungry, stop when you are full. Avoid midnight snacking or eating meals at strange times. Additionally, going to sleep a decent hour and getting a full 8 hours of rest can help your body come back online. Additionally, research shows that the less you sleep in, the more time your body has to get its key functions working properly. It’s also important to (safely) expose yourself to natural light. Just like how society operates on a day and night cycle, our body’s clock takes daylight hours into consideration. Try to get outside for some natural light and enjoy the view.
We hope with these tips you can help you treat your body well and fix your circadian rhythm!
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