A lot of you may find different ways to lead a healthy life. But the mantra is very simple i.e. “Eat when the sun rises and have your last meal when the sun goes down”. Many studies have supported the fact that when we eat is as important as what we eat.

To maintain a healthy life all you need to do is follow the sun. In this article, we bring forth the science and benefits of eating in association with the sun.

Why do you need to eat in association with the sun? 

The sun is responsible for setting your circadian rhythm (it is the natural process of your body which regulates your sleep and wake-up timings). When the sun rises, your insulin (a hormone that regulates glucose level) level also rises. Its level peaks at 2-3 p.m. and then slows down as the sun sets. 

Every time you eat the acid in your stomach gets released to digest the food. Besides digesting the food, this acid also damages approximately 10 % of the protective layer of the stomach (mucosa). This damage in the stomach requires approximately five hours to repair. Similarly, the liver and intestine also require time to repair.

That’s why at night when the sun has set, the levels of melatonin and growth hormone increase in the body. These help your body to repair the damages that happened all along the day.

What happens when you do not eat in association with the sun?

If you are the one enjoying late-night dinners, now is the time to rethink as your hormonal levels are getting disrupted and you are simply not giving your body enough time to digest and repair.

When to eat?

  • Eat a light fiber-rich breakfast around 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. or after one to hours of waking up as your insulin level has just started to increase
  • You can go for a heavy lunch during the afternoon (2 or 3 p.m.) as your insulin level is at its peak at this time. Studies have shown that people who ate lunch before 3 p.m. showed weight loss benefits.
  • Eat your last meal before sunset around 6 p.m. As this is the time for your growth hormone to start its repairing action.

Finishing your last meal before sunset will allow you to have a 14 to 16 hours of fasting period which is required for a proper body function.

Benefits of eating in association with the sun

  • Boosts your metabolism and digestion
  • Helps your body to repair
  • Helps in healthy weight management
  • Improve hormone levels such as helping your body to effectively respond to insulin and growth hormone
  • Improves your quality of sleep

Being healthy is a luxury that one can have just by revisiting the basics. The human body is aligned with nature and if you follow nature’s rule you can achieve this luxury in your life. 

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