Best time to eat certain foods – things you never knew

Food routine

Making time during the day to ensure adequate intake of these nutrient-rich foods can significantly impact your overall well-being and contentment. Moreover, understanding the optimal timing to eat specific food items can further help to improve body performance, balanced mood, and brain activity. You can be more productive at work, social situations, and workouts.

Here, we have mentioned different kinds of foods and the ideal time to eat those foods daily, which can significantly impact your body’s health.

Eating time schedule for certain foods

1. Banana

Bananas are excellent bedtime snacks to enhance the quality of sleep. They promote overall health as they are packed with potassium and other nutrients. Along with regulating your sleep patterns, eating bananas can relieve anxiety, muscle cramps, and stress as it acts as an antidepressant.

Bananas are delicious, healthy, and aid in weight loss, heart health, and digestion. Health experts say bananas are rich in antioxidants, amino acids, magnesium, and fibres. Despite their carb content, they don’t lead to high blood sugar spikes in healthy individuals.

Bananas can be consumed safely at any time during the day. However, it is essential to note that our body’s metabolism tends to be at its lowest at night. Therefore, it is recommended to consume bananas in the morning or evening. Nevertheless, eating bananas at night can help regulate the sleep cycle. 

Bananas are acidic, leading to digestive discomfort if consumed without prior intake. Therefore, it is advisable to pair bananas with other food items and avoid eating them on an empty stomach.

2. Apple

The old age adage, “an apple a day keeps the doctor away”, is way too familiar nowadays. 

Apples, with their immunity-boosting properties, are better to be consumed in the morning if you suffer from digestive problems caused by late-night eating or irregular sleep patterns.

As per Ayurveda, it is advised not to eat apples on an empty stomach as it may lead to constipation and bloating. The traditional Indian medicinal system suggests consuming apples either one hour after breakfast or one hour after lunch. Apples are rich in fibre, and consuming them in the morning allows for easier digestion and better absorption of nutrients by the stomach.

3. Nuts

Nuts should be consumed in the appropriate quantity, in the proper time, and in the appropriate manner. While consuming nuts in the morning is ideal, they can also be enjoyed as an evening snack. However, it is crucial to exercise caution and avoid consuming more than a handful to prevent issues such as indigestion, bloating, and the adverse effects of excessive fat intake. 

Soaking many nuts overnight is advisable as it helps eliminate phytates and tannins, which can hinder nutrient absorption and disrupt the digestive process. In cases where soaking is not feasible, it is recommended to dry roast the nuts to enhance their digestibility. Deep-frying nuts and consuming them in this manner is not recommended.

4. Yoghurt

The optimal choices for yoghurt consumption are either in the morning or on an empty stomach. This is because yoghurt’s probiotics or beneficial bacteria must survive and reach the large intestine to support digestive efficacy and overall well-being. If yoghurt is consumed after a meal, the stomach acid in food digestion will eliminate the beneficial bacteria, rendering them ineffective.

Consuming Greek yoghurt in the morning guarantees an early protein intake and helps regulate blood sugar levels. Opting for Greek yoghurt, rather than a typical Italian breakfast of cappuccino and pastry, can kickstart your metabolism differently, preventing sluggishness.

5. Tomato

Tomatoes contain organic acids that regulate the functions of the stomach and pancreas and facilitate digestive processes. Starting your day with a glass of freshly made tomato juice can be an excellent way to kickstart your morning. This refreshing drink is packed with essential nutrients and antioxidants, offering numerous benefits to your digestive system. Not only does it provide your body with the necessary vitamins and minerals for optimal functioning, but it also aids in digestion and helps manage inflammation. Including tomato juice in your daily routine can effortlessly enhance your antioxidant intake and fortify your immune system.

Consuming a significant quantity of oxalic acid can adversely impact the water-salt metabolism, leading to the possibility of experiencing swelling after having tomatoes for dinner.

6. Orange 

Oranges are rich in vitamin C, which plays a pivotal role in tissue growth, development, and repair. It aids in collagen formation, iron absorption, immune system support, wound healing, and other functions. Additionally, the fruit is rich in fibre, which helps maintain digestive health and prevent conditions such as constipation, IBS, diabetes, obesity, and heart disease.

Oranges can be consumed on an empty stomach to utilise their beneficial nutrients fully. Nevertheless, individuals who are prone to acidity or suffer from acid reflux may experience discomfort if they consume an orange during nighttime. Eating an orange at any given hour is generally considered safe, be it day or night.

In a nutshell

The best times to eat these foods may vary from person to person, but incorporating the foods mentioned above into your diet will have a massive impact on an individual’s overall well-being and potential health.

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