This is the worst time to have lunch when trying to lose weight

If there is one thing that both science and Ayurveda will agree to is that every meal should be eaten at a fixed time for optimal health. This statement holds more importance when you are trying to shed kilos.

Every meal of yours should be in sync with your cardinal rhythm, whether you are having six small meals throughout the day or are following an intermittent diet. Having food as per your internal body clock, make the digestion process easier and help your body absorb all the essential nutrients.
 

However, while managing our daily busy schedule most of us have this habit of eating our lunch late in the afternoon. The worst is that we do not realise how harmful this practice is for our general health and particularly our weight loss goal.
 

According to a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, having your lunch after 3 pm may have a major impact on the speed of your weight loss process. The study specifically observed the working of perilipin protein, which is found in human cells and is important for burning fat throughout the body. At the end of the study, it was found that people with a specific genetic variation of this protein lost less weight when they had their meal post 3 pm.

Another study published in the year 2013 in the International Journal of Obesity also stated that having lunch after 3 pm can slow down the weight loss process. However, both the studies were focused on people with specific genetic makeups.

Our body's internal activity is governed by our circadian rhythms like sleeping and eating. It also influences the weight loss process. Circadian rhythms control insulin secretion in the body. Eating untimely, when your body is less sensitive to insulin can make it harder for you to mobilise fat and shed kilos.

However, researchers did not find any connection between weight loss and breakfast and dinner timing. It could be because the study was carried out in Spain, where people consume calorie-rich food at lunch. So, if you are trying to shed kilos, have your meal before 3 pm.

For many weight watchers, lunch is the heaviest meal of the day. That means you consume most of the calories at this time. So, it is important to plan your lunch correctly for effective weight loss. You must consume 50% of your daily calorie intake at lunch, 15% at breakfast, 15% as a snack and 20% at dinner.