Attention women!
That makes a late meal with your heart
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Eating late not only tends to negatively impact the number on the scale, it can also lead to poorer heart health in women.
Late in the evening, tiptoe to the fridge and enjoy the rest of the afternoon chocolate cake – which woman doesn’t know that? Now and then, a little sweet sin like this isn’t a big problem, but if you regularly eat something late in the evening, you’ll often notice it on the scales in the long term. And in the case of us women, this could also damage our hearts At least that’s what a small new US study that is to be presented at the American Heart Association’s (AHA’s) Scientific Sessions 2019 shows.
How healthy is my heart?
The scientists led by Nour Makarem from the Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons recruited 112 healthy women aged 33 for their study and related their heart health to their meal times. They used the so-called “Life’s Simple 7” – a measurement method of the AHA, which uses seven factors to determine heart health. 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 an online food diary for one week, in which they recorded what they ate, when and in what quantity. The test was repeated after twelve months.
Too many calories in the evening damage the heart
The result: Women who ate large amounts of 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. Conversely, it suggests that 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 its small scope. But there are already several studies that show that light food in the evening puts less strain on the body than heavy and high-calorie food. For example, pizza, pasta and the like can ensure that digestion has to work harder overnight, which in turn can disrupt sleep.