Do people who eat earlier in the day have a health advantage over late-night diners? A recent clinical study conducted by scientists at the University of Pennsylvania would certainly seem to suggest so
1. For eight weeks, a group of volunteers were asked to finish dinner by 7pm and to eat nothing further till the next morning, while a second group were instructed to eat much later, finishing their meal at around 11pm. Both groups ate the same amount of food and slept for the same amount of time, between the same hours. At the end of the study period, the researchers observed various adverse health effects among the late eaters. This group had higher blood levels of glucose, pancreatic hormone, and cholesterol, implicated in type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disorders, they had gained weight, mainly as a result of greater metabolism of fats, and their sleep cycles were more disrupted.
This is hardly a surprise given recent research findings. Several studies had already shown that making the effort to eat earlier in the day helped prevent chronically harmful effects on health. This is undoubtedly due to the influence of biorhythms on our absorption of nutrients as well as the adverse effect of digestion on sleep. Advances in research now mean we can specifically address the following three questions:
What kind of meal should we eat in the evening?
We know that drowsiness is regulated by the brain neurotransmitter serotonin, production of which depends on blood concentrations of tryptophan
2.
A high-carb, low-protein meal is therefore the best choice for promoting maximum concentration of tryptophan
3 and minimum concentration of tyrosine
4, an amino acid involved in the synthesis of the happiness hormone.
What is the best time to eat?
The earlier the better, according to the latest research
5. Falling into a deep sleep requires a drop in body temperature. Digesting a heavy meal has the reverse effect, raising thermogenesis.
Are there any natural products that help digestion and promote sleep?
A number of supplements can help improve digestion in the evening and encourage sleepiness. They include
L-Tryptophan for the reasons mentioned above
6,7, as well as extracts of hop, and
valerian root, which can cut 15 minutes off the time it takes insomniacs to fall asleep
8 while improving the quality of sleep cycles
9! These products are just three of the ingredients included in the highly popular and totally natural formulation created by Supersmart called
Natural Sleep Formula.