Does timing of meals matter?

Yes, the timing of meals does matter, especially to support your circadian rhythms and overall metabolic health. According to Dr. Andrew Huberman, having consistent meal timing each day can help synchronize your body's internal clocks, which improves numerous physiological functions. He recommends organizing meals in a way that they occur during the more active phases of your day and avoiding eating during the nocturnal phase of the 24-hour cycle. Sticking to a consistent eating window, like an 8-hour window during daylight hours, can boost various health metrics, including metabolic function and sleep quality 1.

Furthermore, timing meals in alignment with your circadian rhythms (e.g., not eating too late in the day) helps ensure that your body's systems are receiving food at times when they are best prepared to process it. Dr. Huberman notes that disruptions to this schedule, such as eating at irregular times or too late at night, can lead to negative health outcomes 2. He emphasizes the importance of aligning eating patterns with the body's natural activity and rest periods for optimal health 3.