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How many of us have been “on a diet” for a lifetime? How many restrictions on restrictions, how many diets have we followed without getting very big results? Maybe one of the reasons is that we got the time wrong. What do you mean? It is not enough just to prefer certain foods and exclude others, but above all the time in which to ingest them matters.
This is because there are time slots in which our metabolism is more active than others in which it is not. Let’s see below what chronodiet is and how it works.
Chronodiet: what is it?
The chronodiet, also called chrono-nutrition, is a sort of “food strategy”Which goes to work not only on the daily caloric intake and on the type of food to be taken, but rather on the timetable where they are to be ingested.
In other words, it is a real eating style to be adopted daily.
This is based on the circadian variations of different biological functions which, in turn, are determined by the hormonal variations of a day. This means that, according to the time slots in which the metabolism is more or less active, one can or may not eat. Precisely for this reason, it is important to know and understand what it is the most appropriate time to ingest certain types of food.
Chronodiet: how does it work?
The mechanism that regulates the chronodiet is simple: carbohydrates in the first part of the morning, proteins in the second part. Of course, this is not the only thing that establishes this type of diet, but it is the key point.
This is because, as we have already said, circadian variations are closely related to hormonal variations. Specifically, foods high in carbohydrates and sugars favor the increase ofinsulin which, if not “disposed of” in time, leads to the formation and accumulation of fat. If, on the other hand, it is managed in the first part of the day, it is counteracted by the hormone cortisol.
On the other hand, in the evening hours, the protein intake should be increased because it favors the use of fats for energy purposes and the growth of lean mass.
So, in general, here is at what times the different meals should be taken:
- breakfast: between 7 and 9, with a good dose of carbohydrates, sugars and fats
- lunch: between 12 and 14, with a nice plate of wholemeal pasta or rice and a plate of vegetables
- dinner: between 19 and 21, with a nice plate of proteins and vegetables together.
