It’s all to do with your circadian rhythm, she said
A dietitian has revealed the optimal breakfast time for keeping your heart in check and managing your waistline. Samantha Cassetty, writing for TODAY, suggests that tucking into your morning meal at this specific time can also help you to control your blood sugar levels.
The expert explained: “While I believe all meals are important, breakfast plays a unique role because your body is naturally primed to eat and metabolise food in the morning.” This is thanks to our circadian rhythm, or internal clock, which affects everything from our sleep to energy levels, and even metabolism.
Ms Cassetty goes on to say that research supports the idea that those who consume the majority of their calories earlier on tend to find it easier to maintain a healthy weight. She notes that, “from a metabolic standpoint”, having breakfast before 8.30am is “ideal” as “your body is most insulin-sensitive in the morning, meaning it can process carbohydrates more efficiently, which may help stabilise blood sugar and energy levels throughout the day”.
Furthermore, one study found that eating later in the morning (after 9am as opposed to before 8am) and the last meal after 9pm rather than before 8pm increased cardiovascular risks, particularly in women.
Ms Cassetty advises having breakfast at a consistent time daily, stating “your body thrives on routine”. A study conducted in 2021 discovered that individuals with more regular breakfast habits could “achieve better calorie reductions and lose more weight compared to people who were less predictable”.
