Breakfast has long been called the most important meal of the day. While I believe all meals are important, breakfast plays a unique role because your body is naturally primed to eat and metabolize food in the morning.
That’s because your body operates on an internal clock, known as your circadian rhythm, which influences everything from digestion to energy levels. Your circadian rhythm is like the conductor of an orchestra—each instrument (your digestion, metabolism, hormones and energy production) plays its part, but if the conductor is out of sync, the whole performance feels off. Eating in line with your body’s natural rhythm helps keep everything in harmony, which means having breakfast earlier rather than delaying your first meal for hours.
Research suggests that eating earlier in the day may lead to better blood sugar control, improved weight management and even benefits for heart health. In fact, studies show that people who eat the bulk of their calories earlier tend to have an easier time maintaining a healthy weight compared to those who eat most of their calories later in the day.
