Not in the way you think. The big, trending questions are about intermittent fasting. This is the time to virtually rip up all the advice in social media posts. And I’m not here to say that I know everything. But your body does. And it is trying to tell you something. Meal timing is not a one-size-fits-all concept. However, there are a few meal timing tips if you are perimenopausal.
Consider smaller meals.
For women above 40, small meals are essential to keep blood sugar and energy levels stable. Furthermore, our digestion is inefficient due to stress and perimenopause. Cleaving nutrients from a big meal is overwhelming for an inadequate gut.
Listen closely to your gut.
Take an individualized approach to meal timing as well. Your body vacillates between optimum digestion and crappy digestion. Meal timing affects nutrient absorption and consistency is key. However, if you’re having trouble getting to a consistent schedule due to changing hormones or other life circumstances, your digestive system is one of your best guides.
Circadian rhythms are important, too.
Naturally, eat more in the earlier part of the day because cortisol and energy levels are highest in the morning. Cutting off eating at a certain time trains your body to prepare for sleep because digestion down regulates at night.
BUT, individual differences exist within the guidelines above.
Take all of the above advice with a grain of sea salt. Individual differences lie between those guidelines. For example, you might not be able to eat within a couple hours of waking due to a stressful commute or intense work meetings first thing in the morning. Furthermore, your family might eat late at night because you grew up eating at 10 PM and/or that is when each family member finishes daily activities.
So what do we do about this?
Listen to your body.
If you get a stomachache and gas every time you eat a late afternoon snack, try to spread more calories between other meals and snacks when your digestion is optimal.
Eat when you want but keep a consistent daily schedule.
Feed your body what it wants when it wants. However, to support hormonal balance and further optimal digestion, keep it consistent. Experiment with one specific schedule and evaluate later. Also, keep in mind the importance of family meals and the social aspect of eating. Family meals are important, and getting each member as close as you can to the same eating times is sometimes more important than the food itself.
The takeaway is that each individual determines their optimal meal timing schedule. Even in my consult calls I give people some great takeaways on how they should time their meals.
Need more advice? Contact me or fill out the form.
Happy eating!
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