So I’m composing this to provide information to myself and others why eating later in the day is not as healthy. My partner and his best friend are trying out an intermittent fasting program where they are allowing themselves to eat during an 8 hour time period, no more, no less. They begin to eat at around 1:30pm generally, and sometimes earlier and end their eating hours at around 9:30pm. I want to find out if eating earlier is healthier.

Here are some theories on my own why I think eating earlier is healthier:

1) You digest food better during the day, than when you are sleeping at night.

2) You are more active during the day, thus you are able to exercise off and burn off the calories that you eat than when you are sleeping (unless if you maybe sleep- stroll or run)

3) It’s better for your liver

4) Follows your natural rhythm better

5) I think I heard it helps prevent migraines.

ALright, theories on the ready, lets research!!!

 

How it can alleviate Migraines:

http://www.nyheadache.com/index.php?Itemid=81&id=44&option=com_content&task=view

“The importance of eating regularly cannot be overstated, since skipping meals can trigger headaches.  Skipped meals and fasting were reported migraine triggers in more than half of patients surveyed in several studies.  Low blood sugar can trigger headaches so it is important to eat breakfast, lunch and dinner everyday.  Many people skip breakfast, which puts them at risk for having headaches in the morning.  Snacks in the mid-morning and mid-afternoon might also be helpful for people who find that their headaches are often triggered by hunger.

Also, spikes and falls in your blood sugar can trigger headaches.  Eating protein and fiber with each meal can help to stabilize the way the food is broken down by your body, thus preventing large fluctuations in blood sugar.  For example, having cereal with milk (which has protein) is a better breakfast choice than a big muffin, which is generally high in sugar and low in protein.  Protein-rich foods include: meat, fish, poultry, eggs, dairy, beans, and nuts.  High-fiber foods include wholegrain breads, whole wheat pastas, bran, fruit (especially dried fruit), green leafy vegetables, and nuts and seeds.

Staying well-hydrated throughout the day is also important, since dehydration can trigger headaches.  We recommend drinking 8-10 glasses of water daily to prevent headaches. Caffeinated drinks (coffee, tea, soda) can actually have a dehydrating effect by causing increased urination so these should be limited as much as possible.  This is especially important since caffeine also has a role in increasing headaches (see Caffeine section under Identifying Your Triggers).”