To keep the line, nothing beats balanced meals at a fixed time. But eating at regular times would also be a way to maintain cardiovascular health for longer. Researchers at San Diego State University in the United States have found in fruit flies (which have a genetic pattern similar to humans) that eating at specific times helps prevent health problems related to age and an unbalanced diet.
During the experiment, a panel of two-week-old flies were divided into two groups: the first could feed on cornmeal all day while the second could only do so for a period of 12 hours. The amount of food eaten, times, sleep, weight and heart health were recorded.
Three weeks later, it appeared that the group that ate on a 12-hour slot was much healthier than the second group that had limited access to food. The “scheduled hours” group gained less weight and had better sleep and heart health.
“These results reinforce the idea that the daily meal routine has a profound impact on both the body and the brain,” study co-author Satchidananda Panda, a sleep specialist at the Salk Institute in California, told AFP.
Previous work has suggested that eating too late increased the risk heart disease, obesity and type 2 diabetes.
>> To read also: Digestion: good reasons to eat at a fixed time
