This is the precise time to eat dinner to stay healthy

It’s no secret that a balanced diet is necessary to stay healthy. This balance is found in the choice of food, but not only. Indeed, the food rhythm would also play a role. For example, we know that snacking or eating too quickly are not recommended. But according to some studies, the time at which you dine could also have an effect, in particular on life expectancy.

This is what work published in the journal Frontiers in Nutrition and relayed by Medisite. A team of researchers took an interest in the way of life of the inhabitants of L’Aquila, capital of the Italian region of Abruzzo, renowned for the longevity of its inhabitants. They interviewed 68 people aged 90 and over, and showing no signs of illness or overweight, except for hypertension, which is very common in people over 70. “They were characterized by an extremely low frequency of hypertriglyceridemia (4%) and hypercholesterolemia (19%).“, says the study.

Centenarians go to bed at 7:13 p.m.

The vast majority of subjects had a habit of eating dinner early, on average at 7:13 p.m. As a result, they spent long periods without significant caloric intake: about 17.5 hours until lunch. Data which, according to the researchers, tends to demonstrate the importance of a “calorie restriction period” which reduces the “postprandial stress”. However, eating at 7:13 p.m. is far from being a magic formula.

On the one hand, the study covers only a limited sample. In addition, the researchers also identified other habits that could contribute to the good health of these Italian seniors. They evoke a diet mainly composed of vegetables and cereals, with a moderate consumption of meat, fish and eggs, as well as very few sweets. On the other hand, they noted the importance of physical activity. Despite their age, 74% of nonagenarians and 45% of centenarians surveyed said they still had at least moderate physical activity, such as walking or gardening.