Anya’sNutritionAdvice

Are you fed by the hands of time?

Tick tock goes the clock… Time dictates our lives. From working hours to appointments, from the early morning alarm to the clock hanging over our heads at work - but how does it affect our eating habits?

Portions of the day that could otherwise just slip away become significantly more interesting with the addition of a bite. Maybe you use food as a way to speed up the clock, for example? A common trick amongst the 9-5 brigade. This month we consider if the clock rules when and what we put in our body, and why this might not be best practice.

Consider a normal day. For many, this usually compromises breakfast, lunch and dinner with a few additional snacks. For some, hunger cues such as a tummy rumble might signal that energy levels need a boost. But for others, it‘s the glance at a watch that tells them it‘s time to eat, regardless of what their body is telling them.

The body‘s hunger signals exist for a reason: to ensure that the body is obtaining enough nutrients to sustain its normal function. Eating in addition to what the body requires can lead to unwanted weight gain, unbalanced blood sugar, poor digestion and negatively affect sleep.

Importantly, it‘s not necessarily when we eat that is the problem, but what we eat. Grabbing a snack because it‘s ‗that time‘ means we pay little regard to what our body is asking for. It‘s common to dismiss signs of dehydration, lethargy or lack of movement and instead make food our first point of call. Headaches and brain fog might suggest that what we really need is a large glass of water. Perhaps feeling peckish after lunch could indicate that your lunch wasn‘t sustaining enough, indicating a lack of protein, fibre and whole grains.

For example, the elevenses or mid-afternoon slump isn‘t usually when we reach for protein or vegetables. Rather, we usually reach for something sweet and more-ish (biscuits, cereal bars, crisps), offering very little in the way of ‗nutrition‘ beyond short-lived energy.

Don‘t get me wrong, using the clock as a tool in your diet isn‘t necessarily a bad thing. Some people don‘t experience internal hunger cues, for example, and those who do a lot of exercise may also rely on time signals to ensure they are meeting their extra energy requirements. Also, we now have some evidence suggesting that timerestricted eating patterns might be beneficial. Following a practice such as the ‗16:8‘ method is said to support the body‘s circadian rhythm (our internal clock) and help those wishing to lose weight and improve blood sugar control. This method entails eating during an 8-hour window without any restriction on consumption and then fasting for 16 hours, only drinking water and decaffeinated beverages. Ironically, this pattern in a way places more emphasis on the clock, but in a constructive and beneficial fashion.

So, as always, it‘s entirely up to you. Do you eat your sweet mid-afternoon snack because it‘s 4pm and you‘re desperate to distract yourself from work? Or do you feel like there is genuine logic behind your food schedule? Are you reaching for what your body needs or are you just grabbing a biscuit because it‘s too early for lunch? I encourage you to think about it honestly; it might be an eyeopener!

Wanted: Badminton players for Monday evenings in Loftus

We play at 2000-2200hrs at Loftus Cricket and Athletic Club, Whitby Road, Loftus, Saltburn by the Sea TS13 4LG. Telephone 01287 640891. Ample parking in the car park. Just turn up and try or for more information ring Neil on 07748 969968. You will be made welcome.