What we eat has a huge impact on our physical wellbeing. As studies have shown, eating certain foods at the proper times during the day will help you get the maximum health benefits from your diet. However, some foods give us the much-needed energy boost in the morning while others will prove most useful in helping us fall asleep. Let’s know about some of your favorite foods and the best time of the day to eat them.
Having breakfast soon after you wake up, kick starts the body’s metabolism and stops you from binge eating.
Researchers at the Texas A&M Health Science Center say, ‘The best time to eat a high-fat meal is early in the day, as saturated fat causes more inflammation when consumed late at night’. People who skip breakfast have a 27 percent higher risk of a heart attack than those who don’t.
Coffee
Drinking coffee or tea first thing in the morning actually increases your tolerance to caffeine. You might want to reach for a caffeine fix as soon as you drag yourself out of bed in the morning, but research suggests this is exactly what we shouldn’t be doing.
The best time to drink coffee is between 10am and noon or between 2pm and 4pm to get the full effect.
Rice
High in carbohydrates, rice will keep you energized for the rest of the day. However, eating rice in dinner time can lead to weight gain. Therefore, rice is best eaten at lunch to help keep hunger at bay.
Meat
Meat is a great source of iron, providing oxygen to your organs. This in turn reduces fatigue and vulnerability to diseases. However, eating meat earlier in the day –at lunch – may help you feel fuller for longer, as it takes almost 5 hours to digest.
Dark Chocolate
Eating just a few squares of dark chocolate can keep you from cravings all day and help boost mid-morning mood slumps.
Eat a few pieces of dark chocolate in breakfast to provide your body with antioxidants that help reduce aging and is also good for your heart.
Yogurt
Yogurt is a rich source of protein and calcium. While late-night snacking is not the best idea; yogurt is a healthier substitute than chips and cookies if you feel you’re still hungry in the evening.
Cherries
Do you always crave a sweet treat after dinner? Then cherries could be your new best friend. Cherries are one of the few natural sources of melatonin – a hormone that works as a natural sleep aid.
Snacking on cherries after your evening meal not only will satisfy your sweet tooth, but you’ll be sure to have a sound night’s sleep.
Nuts
Eating a handful of raw nuts will fill your body’s needs for omega 3 fatty acids. They also help regulate blood pressure and benefit lung function.
Nuts are high in fat, so eating them for dinner may lead to weight gain. They are better to be consumed in breakfast or lunch.
Cheese
Cheese is rich in calcium and high in protein- needed for muscle growth and repair. This means that a portion of cheese in the morning is good for your body as it will help support your movement.
Studies show cheese can cause slight digestive discomfort, so if it’s eaten near bedtime, it could disrupt your sleep. If eaten in moderate amounts in breakfast, cheese may prevent bloating and weight gain.
Banana
Bananas are best eaten in the afternoon. The vitamin-packed fruit offers good, slow-release energy to get you through the afternoon. A banana will also stop you from binge eating and help regulate the bowel after lunch.
Source:
https://brightside.me/inspiration-health/the-best-times-of-day-to-eat-our-favorite-foods-160155/
