Study Shows Exact Times You Should Eat to Avoid Heart Attacks and Strokes

The time we eat is essential for regulating our body clock, called the circadian rhythm. The circadian rhythm is an internal biological clock that regulates various physiological processes and behaviors in an approximately 24-hour cycle. This complex mechanism is influenced by environmental factors, light and darkness being the main regulators.

In addition to light, the daily cycle of food intake, alternated with periods of fasting, synchronizes peripheral biological clocks, located in various organs and tissues of the body. Cardiovascular health, a fundamental pillar of our well-being, is closely linked to the precision and coordination of these biological clocks.

Studies have revealed that The circadian rhythm influences crucial factors for heart health, such as blood pressure, heart rate and response to cardiovascular risk factors.

A new study Published in Natural communications found that the time we eat could influence our risk of developing cardiovascular disease. This suggests that eating a late first or last meal is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. It also appears that longer nighttime fasting is associated with a reduced risk of cerebrovascular diseases such as stroke.

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death worldwide according to the Global Burden of Disease study, with 18.6 million deaths per year in 2019, of which around 7.9 are attributable to diet.

This shows that the regime It is essential in the development and progression of these diseases . In the hectic pace of modern life, marked by busy schedules and constant demands, eating habits have undergone a significant change, and not always for the better. One of the most notable challenges is the prevalence of unhealthy behaviors, including: the habit of skipping meals, such as breakfast, or eating dinner late at night.

Breakfast, considered the essential fuel to start the day, is often relegated to the background in the daily routine of many. The morning rush and the mistaken belief that skipping this meal can help manage weight have contributed to its diminished perceived importance. However, science suggests that this omission could have repercussions on cardiovascular health.

The study showed thatPeople who eat their first meal later in the day (for example by skipping breakfast) are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, with a 6% increase in risk per hour of delay. . For example, a person who eats for the first time at 9 a.m. You are 6% more likely to develop cardiovascular disease than someone who eats at 8 a.m.

Regarding the last meal of the day, Eating late (after 9 p.m.) is associated with a 28% increased risk of cerebrovascular disease, like a stroke, compared to eating before 8 p.m., especially in women.

Eventually, a longer duration of night fasting (the time between the last meal of the day and the first meal of the next day) is associated with a reduced risk of cerebrovascular disease, supporting the idea of ​​having the first and last meal earlier in the day.

To obtain this data, the scientists used data from more than 103,000 participants with an average age of 42, the majority of whom were women (79%). They studied the associations between dietary habits and cardiovascular disease, and to reduce the risk of possible bias, they took into account a large number of factors, including sociodemographic (age, gender, family situation, etc.), nutritional quality of the diet, lifestyle and sleep cycle.

The link between these unhealthy eating habits and cardiovascular health reinforces the importance of reconsidering our daily habits. “These results, which need to be replicated in other cohorts and through additional scientific studies of different designs, highlight the potential role of meal timing in the prevention of cardiovascular disease,” the authors note in a note. . release .

In a world where time is a precious resource, paying close attention to nutrition and the timing of eating and fasting cycles can be a crucial investment in preserving heart health in the frenetic context of contemporary lifestyle. Getting into the habit of eating your first and last meals earlier with a longer overnight fasting period could help prevent the risk of cardiovascular disease.