Khaberni - A recent study revealed the impact of dinner timing on cardiovascular health, indicating that refraining from eating at least three hours before bedtime improves blood pressure, regulates heartbeat, and blood sugar levels in adults at risk of heart and metabolic diseases.
The study, published in the Journal of Thrombosis and Vascular Biology, explained that aligning the nightly fasting period with the body's natural sleep rhythms enhances coordination between the heart, metabolism, and sleep, which contributes to protecting heart health.
The results showed that participants in the extended fasting group experienced a 3.5% decrease in nighttime blood pressure, a 5% reduction in heart rate, and improved pancreatic response to glucose and stable sugar levels throughout the day.
The study's author, Daniela Grimaldi, confirmed that "extending the nightly fasting period in conjunction with sleep represents an easily implementable dietary intervention that enhances cardiovascular and metabolic functions in middle-aged and elderly adults."
This study is not the only one linking the timing of eating to body health, as other research has indicated that eating late at night may increase the risk of death from cancer and diabetes, as well as the likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and chronic inflammation, especially when consuming more than 45% of daily calories after 5 PM.
Researchers explained that eating right before bedtime leads to storing excess energy as fat due to decreased physical activity at night, which increases the risks of weight gain and associated diseases.
The study noted that adopting the "three hours before bedtime" rule for eating, along with reducing lighting in the evening, represents a simple yet effective step to enhance heart and metabolic health, and is a promising approach easily implementable in daily life.
