Eating Breakfast Early Might Make You Age Better

There is an hour for breakfast, which is ideal if you want to take care of yourself and age in a much healthier way.

Although sometimes we are angry about schedules, human beings are programmed to follow routines. This applies to many facets of our lives, among which meals are no exception. Breakfast, lunch, or dinner time may seem trivial, but they have a lot to do with our state of health. There are ideal times of the day to make each meal. Logically, everyone has their own routines, but, broadly speaking, we should follow certain patterns to have as healthy a life as possible. In addition, as if everything that was known so far was not enough, recently a team of scientists from Mass General Brigham has shown that changes in breakfast time can be a sign of poor aging.

Basically, these scientists have observed that when people get older, they sometimes tend to change the times of their meals. Especially breakfast and dinner. In doing so, they are affecting their health to the point of, in some cases, increasing their mortality. For this reason, these scientists have advised older people and their caregivers to give much more importance to breakfast time. Although it may not seem like a big deal, it has a lot to do with your health.

But it does not only have to do with the health of our elderly. In general, the time we eat breakfast can influence many parameters of our health, from weight loss to the likelihood of developing certain cardiovascular or metabolic diseases. Sometimes we have no choice but to have breakfast at a specific time, when work allows it. But if in your case you have a flexible schedule in that sense, keep a close eye on when you do it. It can help you improve your quality of life.

What is the best time for breakfast?

Breakfast is, as its name suggests, the moment when we break the night fast. Therefore, the time at which we carry it out is very relevant. The moment we eat the first meals of the day, we begin to synchronize several organs and tissues relevant to both digestion and absorption of food. These are, for example, the stomach, liver, pancreas, intestines, or adipose tissue. If you start the day with a good synchronization, it will be easier for you to maintain it for the rest of the day, and that is very important. In addition, the fact that adipose tissue is also involved means that, depending on what the time of breakfast is, the accumulation and mobilization of fats will be more or less efficient.

There are studies that suggest that eating breakfast excessively early is not a good idea, since we may still be generating melatonin. This is the hormone we secrete during the night and helps us fall asleep. As dawn breaks, its levels drop, so we prepare to face a new day. All of this helps us regulate what are known as circadian rhythms. However, if we eat, an activity that is reserved for daytime activity, when we still secrete melatonin, circadian rhythms can be decompensated. This is not dangerous if it happens once, but it can affect our health if we maintain it over time.

However, the solution is not to eat too late. There are other studies that point out that the key is to establish breakfast time before 8:30. At that time we are more sensitive to insulin, so we can process carbohydrates better. This is beneficial for both weight loss and the prevention of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. In fact, other studies indicate that eating breakfast after 9 a.m. can increase these risks.

What about the elderly?

All these risks are increased in older people. The study just published found that participants who tended to eat breakfast later as they got older had a higher risk of dying during the 20-year study. All those metabolic markers that are altered when postponing the first meal of the day were especially dangerous for them.

Therefore, the ideal is that we establish a routine as soon as possible and that we do everything possible to maintain it as we get older. We insist it is not always possible, and, of course, it is not the only factor that influences our metabolic health. However, if it is something that is in our power to control, it can be a good starting point. The benefits of having breakfast when it is already daylight, but before 8:30, are the most varied. Stick with the one that suits you best.

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