Timing Your Lunch To Lose Weight

In a recent study it was found that dieters who ate lunch later in the day like around 3:00 p.m., lost 5 pounds less after a 20 week study, than the dieters who ate lunch earlier (Int. J. Obesity 2013. doi:10.1038/ijo.2012.229).

The results seem hard to understand because a calorie is a calorie no matter when you eat it.  Yet, science and Ayurveda say otherwise.  In Ayurveda eating should be done in a way that helps digestion.  When digestion is strong, food is assimilated and available for the body.  Food that is not digested properly can remain in the digestive system, becoming toxic (known as "ama") and causing weight gain.  According to Ayurveda, the best time of the day for the strongest digestion is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.  This is known as the Pitta time of day, and it is recommended to eat your biggest meal of the day at this time.  Skipping lunch can harm your body's ability to digest.  It also can cause you to overeat later because you are hungrier (even though in the study, the dieters ate the same meal just later).

Trying to lose weight is hard.  No one likes to deprive themselves of food and feel restricted at meals, but a simple thing like eating your meal when digestion is strong can make a huge difference.  Ayurveda has many tools and tips that help you lose weight by maximizing your digestion without even cutting calories.  One of Ayurveda's tips has just been proven scientifically.  Maybe you want to explore more.

Stay healthy & well,
Lisa