Page 70 - Prevention - USA (April 2020)

SCI E NCE

cuts heal faster when the injury occurs brain and body that regulate appetite
during the day, and data suggests and metabolism,” Dr. Zee says.
that burns incurred in the daytime
heal up to 60% faster than burns that
occur at night. SYNCING YOUR CLOCKS
IT INFLUENCES YOUR METABOLISM: Getting your internal clocks working
Just as bright light stimulates the harmoniously is crucial for your
brain, it may also help wake up your health: Picture those clocks as instru-
metabolism. In a 2014 study, Phyllis ments in an orchestra, says St. Hilaire.
Zee, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Cen- “The master clock in the brain is the
ter for Circadian and Sleep Medicine conductor who keeps everyone at the
at Northwestern University Feinberg same point in the song. But if the
School of Medicine, found that sub- conductor becomes distracted, you
jects exposed to early-morning rays get a cacophony of sound rather than
had lower BMIs than those exposed to a perfect melody.” That cacophony,
sun in the afternoon; they were also known as chronic circadian disruption,
more physically active all day. “Light can make you feel run-down, crabby,
helps synchronize the clocks in the hungry, distracted, and sad, and it may

Matching your eating The Case for your first morning
schedule to your bite—tells your inner
internal clock may Eating clock it’s still daytime.
help you maintain a This circadian disrup-
healthy weight. Our tion causes swings in
metabolism follows its by the the levels of cortisol,
own circadian rhythm, insulin, and other
which dictates the ebb Clock hunger hormones that
and flow of hunger- make you crave fast
related hormones and energy via sugar and
enzymes, says Brooke carbs. Sticking to a
Kalanick, N.D., a natu- nal clock’s power. 10-hour eating time
ropathic doctor and a This can be achieved frame—say, 8 a.m. to
coauthor of Hangry: by pushing breakfast 6 p.m.—not only can
5 Simple Steps to Bal- back or eating dinner help you maintain
ance Your Hormones earlier. The latter, a healthy weight,
and Restore Your Joy. while less practical, but also may lead to
When we limit our seems to offer greater improved sleep, lower
eating to an eight- to benefit: Eating late at system-wide inflam-
10-hour window, we night—sometimes mation, and improved
can harness this inter- 14 to 16 hours after blood sugar control.

68 PREVENTION.COM • AP R I L 2020