The time you eat is just as important as the contents of your plate, new research shows.
Scientists at the University of Manchester studied cultured cells and mice to analyze how the internal body clock (or, circadian rhythm) affects metabolism and digestion.
They found that when we eat and the body releases insulin, it has an impact on the body's clock and how all of our cells work together.
Eating at the 'wrong' biological time - i.e., late at night - threw off that rhythm, triggering a release of insulin that stimulated proteins at times when they don't need to be active.
The results add weight to a growing body of research showing that our body clocks could play a significant role in the risk of developing diabetes, obesity, metabolic disorders, or heart problems.
Now that we have electricity that allows us to be active and productive round-the-clock, we can flout that rhythm. But our bodies work best in sync with the sun
'We already know that modern society poses many challenges to our health and well-being - things that are viewed as commonplace, such as shift-work, sleep deprivation, and jet lag, disrupt our body clock,' Dr David Bechtold, a senior lecturer at the university who worked on the study, said.
'It is now becoming clear that circadian disruption is increasing the incidence and severity of many diseases, including cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.'
All life - plants, fungi, animals, humans - has evolved to be in sync with the sun.
Now that we have electricity that allows us to be active and productive round-the-clock, we can flout that rhythm.
But our bodies work best in sync with everything else.
In a healthy person, levels of cortisol (the stress hormone) peak at around 8am, giving us a rush of energy to wake us up (in theory). Those levels drop to their lowest at 3am the next day, before rising back to its peak five hours later at 8am again.
Ideally, this 8am peak will be triggered by exposure to sunlight, if not an alarm. When it does, the adrenal glands and brain will start pumping adrenalin.
By mid-morning, the cortisol levels start dropping, while the adrenalin (for energy) and serotonin (a mood stabilizer) keep pumping.
At midday, metabolism and core body temperature ramp up, getting us hungry and ready to eat.
After noon, cortisol levels start their steady decline. Metabolism slows down and tiredness sets in. Gradually the serotonin turns into melatonin, which induces sleepiness. Our blood sugar levels decrease, and at 3am, when we are in the middle of our sleep, cortisol levels hit a 24-hour low.
Disrupting
