Does it matter when we consume our meals – is chrononutrition more than just a passing trend?
Katarzyna Mazur
2026-03-24
6 min. read
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Not only the quantity and type of food we consume matters, but also the time at which we take our meals. We are all acquainted with the advice to eat breakfast instantly upon waking, have dinner no later than 6:00 p.m., and refrain from eating meals at night. We are also aware of the recommendations regarding the size of individual meals. Does it even make sense to adhere to this approach? And if so, what is it founded upon?
The internal mechanism for regulating bodily processes, known as the biological clock
The development of living organisms on earth is dependent on two important factors: the availability of food and light. In spring and summer, when light is abundant, it is much easier to feed. In winter, it's different, so the organisms adapt to the availability of food and light. What's important is that the accessibility of these two elements changes not only during the year, but also during the day. This determines the periods of rest and activity in mammals, including humans. During activity, mammals eat, but during rest. That's why at night, after a few hours of sleep, they don't wake up to a disturbing feeling of hunger. When we know these things, we can evaluate the nutritional value of food. Since the body adapts its cycle to natural light, setting a specific time for dinner for everyone, regardless of their lifestyle, is pointless. The internal mechanism for regulating bodily processes, known as the biological clock, is connected to many processes in the body and regulates their course. Unfortunately, it is vulnerable to external factors that can easily disrupt its function. In the past, people woke up with the sunrise and went to sleep at dusk. Those times are gone. The invention of electricity has made us independent of natural light and led to few people living with their internal mechanism for regulating bodily processes. Unfortunately, this can lead to health problems.
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