When you eat may matter as much as what you eat for longevity and heart health
What we eat plays a vital role in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. A well-balanced meal rich in essential micronutrients not only fuels the body but may also help protect against metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. There is another question worth asking: Does when we eat matter just as much as what we eat?
What time we eat our meals may influence our longevity and heart health, beyond the quality of the food we consume. A recent study examined the relationship between meal timing and mortality risk among U.S. adults aged 40 and older. Researchers found that first meals starting later in the day and last meals consumed past midnight were linked to higher overall mortality risk and cardiovascular disease deaths.
The optimal timing appeared to be eating the first meal between 7 and 8 a.m. and the last meal around 7 to 8 p.m. These findings, published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, suggest that incorporating optimal meal timing alongside a balanced diet could be a strategy for enhancing population health.
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