In a scene from "Kung Fu Panda," master Shifu finds Po, the panda who wants to learn the martial arts, in the pantry at dawn, chowing down on cookies. "Look at you," Shifu remarks. "Ya, I know. I disgust you," Po replies. "No, no. I mean how did you get up there?" Shifu asks. "You are 10 feet off the ground and have done a perfect split." At that moment, Shifu realizes Po's potential in kung fu.
Not only has Po performed a remarkable kung fu feat, he is doing something else Shifu could have praised: He's loading up on calories early in the day (although we're NOT recommending cookies of any kind, anytime of the day). A new study tracked nine healthy adults for eight weeks while they ate all their meals between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m., and then assessed the change in their weight, body fat, energy metabolism and hormonal markers when they spent eight weeks eating the same amount, but between noon and 11 p.m.
Turns out, when eating later, people gained weight and their metabolic health deteriorated. Seems their bodies were processing more carbs but burning less fat, and they had higher levels of fasting glucose, insulin and lousy LDL cholesterol. Eating late also negatively affected hormonal markers that control appetite and others that are implicated in heart disease, diabetes and other health problems.
So don't sabotage your weight-control efforts or your overall health by eating late. Start early, and stop three to four hours before hitting the hay.
Mehmet Oz, M.D. is host of "The Dr. Oz Show," and Mike Roizen, M.D. is Chief Wellness Officer and Chair of Wellness Institute at Cleveland Clinic. To live your healthiest, tune into "The Dr. Oz Show" or visit www.sharecare.com.
(c) 2017 Michael Roizen, M.D.
and Mehmet Oz, M.D.