[LifeStyle] Chrononutrition: these are its benefits

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Following a Mediterranean diet and eating meals at the correct times influences health and weight

Today's society operates at a dizzying pace that forces many citizens to plan strategies to get to the end of the day with all tasks completed. Thus, people are forced to perform their daily duties quickly and biological needs are sometimes relegated to the background.

All these factors negatively affect our health causing different problems. The circadian system, a kind of internal clock, can be affected by disruptions caused by our lifestyle and lead to various diseases. This deregulation also has a certain impact on the effect produced by ingested food, something that mitigates chronic nutrition.

The Spanish Nutrition Foundation (FEN) explains that chronic nutrition is "the discipline that consists in respecting the body's natural rhythm and eating food when the body is more prepared to assimilate it." The changes in this kind of clock that our body possesses "condition the effect that food produces according to the time of day that we consume it."

Importance has always been attached to the type of food we eat and the energy and nutrients we provide to our bodies. But, the time of day when the food is eaten has been more unnoticed until a few years ago. However, several studies show the relationship that exists between meal times and the predisposition to suffer certain diseases, such as obesity, diabetes, cancer or even premature aging. "Circadian control of cardiovascular function, of the hormones involved in metabolism, such as insulin, glucagon, growth hormone and cortisol, is well known," says the entity.

The usual times in Spain do not favor the correct maintenance of circadian rhythms, since "people usually eat and eat late, they are times that are not beneficial for the correct hormonal secretion, which poses a health risk," warns the FEN . However, not all is bad news. Spain has an advantage: the Mediterranean diet. If we also add the practice of physical activity, a quality sleep, if we avoid high levels of stress and enjoy nature, we will improve our quality of life.

Another benefit of chrononutrition is its usefulness for people who want to lose weight, since it is a useful tool to lose weight more effectively. However, Spanish customs also do not contribute to weight loss. In fact, "a study carried out by Marta Garaulet in 2013 shows how eating in Spain after three in the afternoon means less weight loss compared to those who ate before three, this effect being independent of caloric intake", informs the Spanish Nutrition Foundation.