Chrononutrition diet: New Way of Dieting

“Eat breakfast like a king eat lunch like a prince and eat supper like a pauper.”   – Unknown

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is crucial, and the emerging concept of chrono-nutrition explores how food, metabolism, meal timing, and our body clock interact. With various health diets available, choosing the right one can be confusing. This article delves into chrono-nutrition, its explanation, function, benefits, and related products, offering insights into aligning eating habits with our body’s natural rhythms for better health.

What is Chrono-nutrition?

Chrono-nutrition is a new idea in nutrition that focuses on eating within specific time frames, taking into account how food affects the body’s metabolism through its internal clock, known as circadian rhythm.

Our body’s internal clock, or circadian rhythm, regulates various processes like sleep, body temperature, and mental alertness. It’s like the body’s built-in schedule, helping us anticipate and prepare for what comes next, much like our sleep-wake cycle.

Different aspects of metabolism, such as saliva production, digestion, nutrient absorption, insulin release, glucose tolerance, and hunger, follow a daily pattern.

Research suggests that disruptions to this pattern, like irregular eating times or shift work, can weaken the immune system.^{1 2}

In July 2021, Professor Shibata from Japan’s Waseda University found that having proteins at breakfast maximizes muscle building in elderly women, a scientific literature now influencing the food industry. He collaborated with Japanese firm Glico to create a fiber-rich snack, intended for consumption between lunch and dinner.

What is a diet?

Diet usually refers to a specific way of eating for health or weight management. Examples of diets include plant-based, low-carb (like Atkins, keto, and paleo), raw food, and intermittent fasting. A good diet includes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, healthy fats, and proteins—providing essential nutrients for overall well-being. In simpler terms, it means eating a variety of healthy foods to keep our bodies in good shape.³

Problems Associated with Conventional Diet Plans

In our modern lives, prolonged exposure to artificial light, irregular eating patterns, and shift work can mess with our natural body rhythms. Conventional diet plans have their issues:

1. Habit Oversight: Some plans ignore habits affecting food choices and health.
2. Nutritional Gaps: Lack of balance or variety in certain diets may lead to nutritional deficiencies.
3. Health Concerns: Some diets may not be sustainable, causing weight regain and long-term health problems.

In comparison, chrono-nutrition considers the body’s internal clock, aiming for a more holistic and sustainable approach to healthy eating.

A recent study suggests that most popular diets aren’t effective for the majority of people. They might provide some benefits initially, but those tend to diminish after about a year. According to the 2023 World Obesity Federation’s report, more than 4 billion people—51% of the world’s population—are expected to be overweight or obese in the next 12 years.^{4 5}

Benefits of chrono-nutrition

• Immune Boost: Timely, nutrient-rich meals strengthen the immune system.
• Weight Management and Fat Loss: Aligning eating patterns with circadian rhythm supports weight loss through chrono-nutrition.
• Hormone Harmony: Regular eating helps the body’s internal clock regulate insulin and digestive enzyme production.
• Quality Sleep: Consistent eating intervals prevent midnight hunger, ensuring restful nights and productive days.⁶

Companies

Cycle.me: 7-Eleven Limited Edition Cycle.me products are inspired by chrono nutrition concepts. This product line contains various well-being products which have been designed to be taken at different times of the day, aligning with the body’s circadian rhythm.

MANTRA Labs: Mantra labs nutrition has developed simple, comprehensive, natural and doctor-backed system helps align your nutrition and natural biorhythms to support energy, focus, recovery and sleep. Their products are perfectly dosed and synergistically blended to deliver the focused benefits you need all day and night.

Conclusion Chrono-nutrition combines nutrition and our body’s internal clock, focusing on when we eat, not just what we eat. Aligning our meals with our natural rhythms can potentially boost health. It may improve digestion, manage weight, regulate cholesterol and blood sugar, enhance sleep, and strengthen the immune system. However, individual factors like lifestyle and health should be considered, so it’s wise to consult a healthcare professional before making major diet changes.