Sneak tiptoe to the fridge late in the evening and enjoy the rest of the afternoon chocolate cake – what woman doesn't know that? From time to time, such a small sweet sin is not a big problem, but if you regularly eat something late at night, you will often notice this on the scales in the long term. And with us women this could also damage the heart – At least, this is evidenced by a small new US study to be presented at the American Heart Association's (AHA's) Scientific Sessions 2019.
How healthy is my heart
The scientists led by Nour Makarem from Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons recruited 112 healthy women aged 33 years for their study and put their heart health in relation to the time of their meals. They used the so-called "Life's Simple 7" – an AHA measurement method that uses seven factors to determine the health of the heart. The factors are:
- Blood pressure
- cholesterol
- Blood sugar
- Physical movement
- nutrition
- Weight
- Smoking behavior
Based on the factors, the scientists determined a so-called cardiovascular health value for each participant in the study. In addition, the participants had to keep a food diary online for a week, by recording what they ate when and in what amount. The test was repeated after twelve months.
Many calories in the evening damage the heart
The result: Women who consumed many calories, especially after 6 p.m., tended to have poorer heart health than women who ate before 6 p.m. In addition, blood pressure and BMI tended to be higher and the body's insulin processing was worse. The other way around, it can be concluded that a lower calorie intake after 6 p.m. could improve heart health.
The researchers themselves point out that the study is only of limited significance due to the small size. But there are already several studies that show that light meals in the evening are less stressful for the body than heavy and high-calorie food. For example, pizza, pasta and Co. can ensure that digestion has to work harder overnight – which in turn can disturb sleep.
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