When it comes to a healthy diet, when you're having your meal is as important as what you're eating. The best time to have breakfast is within two hours of getting up. “The sooner you eat breakfast after you wake up, the better it is for your metabolism,” says Larson.
When you sleep your metabolism naturally slows down because your body has fewer requirements. By eating breakfast within the first hour of waking you give your metabolism a jump start by initiating thermogenesis (the metabolic process of digesting and transporting food).
Likewise, healthy lifestyle coach Liz Traines says it's never good to force consumption, if your body doesn't need food. She recommends eating within an hour or two of waking up—even if it's something small. "Eating something within a short time period can start the engines," Traines says.
As the name suggests, breakfast breaks the overnight fasting period. It replenishes your supply of glucose to boost your energy levels and alertness, while also providing other essential nutrients required for good health. Many studies have shown the health benefits of eating breakfast.
Within one hour of waking up, your body has processed all the nutrients during your sleep and is ready to build energy. Choose high protein and low sugar and carb options to provide long-lasting energy without crashing mid-morning. About 3 hours later, a light, low-calorie snack should keep you energized until lunch.
It's best to stop eating about three hours before going to bed. That allows plenty of time for your body to digest the last food you ate so it won't disrupt your sleep, but leaves a small enough window before sleep that you won't go to bed feeling hungry.
You should eat within the first hour of waking to get your body primed for a successful day. Between 6 and 10 a.m. would be the ideal time to take this first meal, mainly so that you set yourself up for a second meal a few hours later.
Excessive morning hunger, or just waking up hungrier than usual, is also normal every once in a while, such as in the cases mentioned above. However, if you're always waking up with extreme hunger, you likely want to change your routine to ensure your body isn't deprived of energy and critical nutrients.
The idea behind eating within the first hour of waking for blood sugar and hormonal imbalances is that your body is primed and ready to receive nutrients at that time—it's been a while since you last ate, after all—and balancing both out from the jump can lead to an uptick in energy.
Experts recommend waiting at least three hours after you've eaten to go to bed. This allows your body time to digest your food so you're not up at night with an upset stomach, indigestion, or acid reflux. And it helps you stay asleep.
Researchers in New York discovered that consuming food within the first eight hours after waking may help counteract weight gain, improve blood sugar fluctuations, and reduce periods of high blood sugar — thereby potentially preventing diabetes and maintaining good metabolic health.
You should wait two to three hours to sleep after eating. This should give your digestive system enough time to get to work so that gastrointestinal issues don't keep you awake.
In the case of Intermittent fasting, skipping your dinner is better and easier. You can have your dinner either early or have a heavy snack and can begin your fasting. Research suggests that fasting in the evening and overnight, then eating early in the morning is the better way to follow this diet to lose weight.
"As soon as you wake up after a night of sleep, you should get out of bed. If you lie awake in bed, your brain links being awake to being in bed," according to Professor Matthew Walker from University of California Berkeley.
However, by going to bed on an empty stomach, your blood sugar level may drop, also referred to as hypoglycemia. The condition can be dangerous for people with diabetes and other critical health issues. Even in healthy folks, low blood sugar levels can cause headaches and dizziness and negatively affect sleep.
Sleep interruptions
You might actually be physically hungry, which causes you to wake up as your body attempts to get the calories and nutrients it needs. Or, if you're lacking key nutrients, your body may also have trouble staying asleep.
Studies show that for optimal health, it's best to consume most of your calories earlier in the day rather than later — for example by eating a large breakfast, a modest lunch, and a small dinner.
Once you have your first meal, depending on its content and balance, it's recommended to have each subsequent meal every three to four hours to prevent dips in blood sugar levels (which can lead to feeling hangry). Meals should include a protein-rich food, high-fiber starches, vegetables, fruits, and fat.
When Should Dinner be Served? We recommend planning to eat dinner at about four to five hours after lunch. Keep in mind, if your dinner time fall in between the 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. timeframe, you are going to be reaching the last hour of your body's heightened metabolic rate.
Can you survive on just two meals? Not only can you survive on just two meals, but you can actually thrive.
A wait of six to eight hours between meals can cause problems in your everyday activities, according to Dr. Khorana, as it can lead to a lack of focus, acidity, irritation (hangry), shakiness, low energy, low blood sugar levels, and eventually, over-eating.