Benefits of eating late breakfast
Eating breakfast between 10 and 11 a.m. can do wonders, says Steven Gundry, MD, a nutritionist and founder of Gundry MD. The longer you leave between your last meal of the day and your first meal of the next day, the more you’ll improve your metabolic flexibility, overall function, and even longevity.
Sharing the same opinion, Ms. Pratiksha Kadam, a nutritionist at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital (Navi Mumbai, India) explained that delaying breakfast as part of an intermittent fasting regimen can bring specific health benefits.
Delaying breakfast until around 10 or 11 a.m. can boost fat burning and improve insulin sensitivity by extending the overnight fast, allowing the body to rely on stored energy, notes Pratiksha Kadam.
However, the ideal time for breakfast varies depending on an individual's schedule, lifestyle, and metabolism.
Ms. Rinki Kumari, a nutritionist at Fortis Hospital, Bengaluru (India), said that postponing breakfast by one to two hours can be beneficial.
This diet can improve autophagy, boost metabolism, and increase fat burning. Kumari adds that eating late can reduce overall calorie intake and improve mental clarity.
But it is important to ensure nutritional quality, as a balanced breakfast will provide essential vitamins, minerals and energy.
“The optimal time for most people to respond effectively to an energy boost is between 8 and 10 a.m.,” says Dr. Kadam. “But intermittent fasters tend to start breakfast around 10 to 11 a.m., which helps them control their weight as well as lower their blood sugar.”
Note
Kumari notes that there is no ideal breakfast time that works for everyone. Factors such as lifestyle, schedule, and personal preferences will influence breakfast times.
Some studies suggest eating breakfast within an hour of waking up, while others recommend eating later, so listen to your body and experiment to find the time that works best for you.
