Nutritionists Urge 8-to-12-Hour Eating Window to Reset Gut Health
Updated
Updated · Vogue · Aug 19
Nutritionists Urge 8-to-12-Hour Eating Window to Reset Gut Health
3 articles · Updated · Vogue · Aug 19
Summary
An 8-to-12-hour daily eating window can help restore gut health and energy after irregular summer schedules, nutritionists say, with consistent meal times acting as a simple reset for the body.
Late or shifting meals can disrupt circadian rhythms, creating “metabolic jet lag” that affects melatonin, cortisol, insulin sensitivity, and appetite hormones including leptin and ghrelin.
Experts advise eating most calories before 3 p.m., avoiding dinner after 10 p.m., and finishing the last meal 2 to 3 hours before bed; an 8 a.m. breakfast would imply dinner by 8 p.m.
They also recommend an early breakfast rich in protein, fiber, and complex carbohydrates, while lighter evening meals may better match slower nighttime digestion.