Emma Miller
Studies have already shown that time-limited eating leads to improved metabolic health. The development of type 2 diabetes may begin with the pancreas failing to produce sufficient or adequate insulin, but these are external processes that can help or hinder it.
Progressive research shows that the time of day you eat can affect your blood sugar levels.
“We found that people who started eating earlier in the day had lower blood sugar and less insulin resistance,” said lead researcher Dr. Marriam Ali. Dr. Ali, from Northwestern University in Chicago, said their results were independent of restrictive diets.
“With the rise of metabolic disorders such as diabetes, we wanted to expand our understanding of dietary strategies to help address this growing problem,” Ali told fellow researchers. Speaking at the annual meeting of the Virtual Endocrine Society, Ali detailed her findings.
Analyzing data from 10,575 adults, the participants were grouped into one of three groups based on the total duration of their meals. The total duration of the meal groups:
- Less than 10 hours
- 10-13 hours
- More than 13 hours
Ali and her research team based their grouping decision on prior knowledge. Numerous studies have already shown that time-limited meals lead to improved metabolic health. To contribute to the study, Ali and her team divided the groups into six subgroups based on what time people started eating during the day. Those who ate before 8:30 a.m. had lower insulin resistance, regardless of how many hours they ate during the day.
“These results show that time is more closely related to metabolic performance than duration and support early eating strategies,” Ali said. If you can lower your blood sugar levels – which can also be done by exercising regularly and eating a healthy diet – you can prevent disease.
Persistently high blood sugar levels are linked to heart disease. Heart disease is a strong indicator that you are at risk for a heart attack. Since a heart attack can be fatal, minimizing your chances of having one will undoubtedly increase your life expectancy.
Heart disease also increases the risk of a fatal stroke. One of the best ways to give yourself a better chance of living a long, disease-free life is to lead a healthy lifestyle. This includes getting rid of bad habits such as smoking, inactivity, or drinking too much alcohol. It also means wearing sunscreen and getting regular medical checkups.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says these measures can help prevent:
- Diabetes
- Obesity
- Depression
- Cancer
- Heart disease
- High blood pressure
