What Is A Chrono-Nutrition Diet?

Most of you likely don’t have a set plan or strict rules on your meal timing or nutrient timing but maybe you should if you wish to reach your health and fitness goals. I do, and Energy Fitness coaches our clients to have a plan and plan ahead, take food with you when out for more than three hours away from work or home. While listening to my Food is Medicine webinar training I heard one of the instructors mention Chrono-Nutrition.

The fundamental principles of chrono-nutrition is pretty much the statement we said for years. “Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a pauper.” With chrono-nutrition, you can really do justice to this well-known saying! The day is based around 4 meals, timed at least 4h apart in order to prevent the body from storing fats.

Again and again we are finding studies that show eating most calories and carbohydrates at lunch time and in the early afternoon, avoiding late evening dinner works best to keep cancer and diseases at bay. Your insulin receptors are better regulated to process those carbohydrates earlier in the day.

Here’s a breakdown…The chrono-nutrition diet indicates to take a single dish at lunch time, composed mainly of a source of animal protein in large quantities and starchy foods. Of course many of you know I’m not in favor of a large amount of animal protein especially ones high in added fat. If you are eating this meal out then you are likely getting the bad Omega fats (inflammatory) and letting someone else be trusted with your nutritional well-being.

Eating this meat for lunch and large quantities can be misinterpreted as what is “large” portion size and how much each individual can actually digest. According to this type of eating the lunch time meal is to provide the body with energy for the rest of the day. The fat intake should be much lower than for breakfast. I must say if we could all do lunch out instead of dinner out especially dinner pizzas and pasta we would love millions of pounds as a nation likely.