How To Help Reset Circadian Rhythms By Sticking To An Eating Schedule.
The time we wake up and go to sleep, are all regulated by an internal biological clocks. This internal "master-clock" in our brains, governs the circadian rhythms.
Circadian Rhythms determine the 24 h rhythmic changes in most of our physiology and behavior, including body temperature, blood pressure, melatonin and growth hormone, and many other physiological variables, such as mood and cognitive ability. The most obvious 24 h cycle is our rhythm in activity and sleep (Foster, 2014).
Many studies have recently focused on the disruption of these rhythms and the consequences that may arise due to these disruptions; such as mental illnesses, depression, sleep disruption, elevated blood sugar and may also raise the risk of cancer development between many others. (Wehrens, n.a)
But what can we do when these “clocks” are disrupted? And what can we do to reset it ?
A recent study has found that late meal times delayed blood sugar rhythms by an average of 5 hours.(Sandoiu, 2017).
The study consisted of three timely meals a day during 13 days, the first 6 days consisted of the first meal after 30 minutes of waking up, then the first meal was delayed by 5 hours for the remaining time of study. Surprisingly, the results showed a delayed blood sugar rhythms by an average of 5 hours. However the delayed meal time did not have any affect in the participants' appetite or sleepiness. The brains' master clock was neither affected. " Timed meals therefore play a role in synchronizing peripheral circadian rhythms in humans and may have particular relevance for patients with circadian rhythm disorders, shift workers, and trans meridian travelers" (Wehrens, n.a.)
As researchers mentioned, these findings indicate that people who have circadian rhythms problems could try to have meals at specific time intervals to help reset their body clocks (Sandoiu, 2017).
During a seminar talk at Loyola University Chicago, the article entitled “The rhythms of life: what your body clock means to you!” was presented by Dr. Dan Cavanaugh. During this presentation, he also mentioned that during the 24 h cycle, during the late hour nights the body does not digest sugar as well as in the early hours of the morning. These two studies demonstrate and suggest that disrupting this cycle by irregular eating schedule and delayed meal times causes a disruption to the circadian rhythms.
With this new finding however, there is something we could do and try to stick to specific eating times every day and help reset this internal clock that is so important for every aspect of our health; having in mind all the consequences this disruption may bring, as mentioned earlier. Its probably not easy due to every day chores and responsibilities, but the future outcome will be worth the while.
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