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Eat and drink
- but at the right time!
In our super-busy 21st-century lives, most of us try to do as much
as we can in 24 hours. However, we usually do things whenever
it suits us, and experts say that this is disrupting our body's
natural cycle, making us feel tired at times when we should feel
awake, and vice versa. Science shows that by doing things at
the right timè, we can be happier and healthier
Have breakfast at 8:00 a.m.
In a recent study, researchers found having breakfast at this time is
good for our blood sugar levels, so the food you eat now will give
you the energy you need. It's also important not to skip breakfast.
Another research team, from Sweden, suggested that people who
ate a regular breakfast as teenagers were 32% less likely to be at
risk of heart disease as adults
Don't drink coffee in the morning. Have one at 3:00 p.m.
Most coffee drinkers make a cup as soon as they wake
up. However, researchers have suggested that early
morning is the worst time to drink coffee because
it stops the body from producing the stress
hormone cortisol, which we need at this time
to help us to wake up. The best time to drink
coffee -or caffeine in general - is between
2:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.. when it can
make us more mentally alert, according
to a study conducted by the University of
Sheffield a few years ago
Have lunch between 12:00 and 2:00
This is when our body digests food
best because this is when the stomach
produces the most acid. So it's the
ideal time to have your main meal of
the day. An experiment by nutritionists at
the University of Surrey found that blood
glucose levels after an evening meal were
much higher than when people had the
same meal earlier in the day, and high levels of
glucose can cause diabetes
Have dinner at 7:00 p.m.
Have your evening meal early. It should be delicious - our
sense of smell and taste are at their best at this time - but light.
More good times for your body
Ideally, you should get up when the sun rises. When we see
daylight, we stop producing the sleep hormone melatonin and
start getting ready for the day ahead
Do yoga or go for a walk before breakfast.
Do important tasks at 11:00 a.m., when your brain is working
the best.
Weightlifting sessions are best done at midday - that's when your
muscles are the strongest.
The best time to run or ride a bike is 5:00 p.m., when your lung
capacity - important for endurance sports - is at its greatest.
Go to bed between 9:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. This is when your
body temperature starts to go down and the brain begins
producing melatonin.