Hey there! 🍴
We’ve talked a bit before about anti-inflammatory diets (the Mediterranean, DASH, MIND, and plant-based), and how they help calm inflammation through what we eat. 🥗 But what if when we eat matters just as much as what we eat? Science says our body runs on a 24-hour rhythm that not only regulates sleep, energy, and hormones—but also inflammation.
How does our body’s rhythm affect inflammation?
Our internal clock, the circadian rhythm, syncs nearly every process in our body—from metabolism to immune response. During the day, our immune cells act like sentinels, staying on high alert for infection or stress. 🛡️ At night, they shift into repair mode, clearing out damaged cells and healing tissues. ♻️
But when our eating patterns don’t match this rhythm, things…fritz. Late-night meals, irregular schedules, or constant snacking can all confuse our body clock. Research shows that mistimed eating elevates inflammatory markers like CRP and TNF-α and even disrupts gut microbiota balance which is the foundation of immune health. Our body interprets this mismatch as stress, and inflammation becomes the fallout. 🙈
Even hydration plays a role. Mild dehydration thickens the blood and slows nutrient delivery, amplifying inflammatory signals. On the flip side, eating earlier in the day, when digestion and metabolism are most active, can lower inflammation and stabilize blood sugar which are both key to keeping our body in sync.
Where does fasting fit in all this?
If we’re talking timing, fasting naturally comes into play. Studies show that strategic fasting reduces inflammation by calming NF-κB (our body’s “inflammation switch”) and activating Nrf2, a major antioxidant defense pathway.
But here’s the catch: timing still matters. Intermittent fasting that ends earlier in the day—say, between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.—works with our body’s rhythm. It allows metabolic repair to happen during the night, as nature intended. In contrast, fasting all day then feasting at 9 p.m. (hello, OMAD) can do the opposite, spiking inflammatory markers just when our cells are trying to rest. 🫣
So the goal isn’t just fasting or dieting…it’s aligning our meals, rest, and hydration with our body’s natural 24-hour rhythm. That’s when inflammation stays under control and healing becomes the default setting.
And for that little extra support, ⚪Oleia Softgels⚪ can help keep our body’s anti-inflammatory pathways steady through all those cycles of activity and recovery. A little 🪻Oleia Lavender Oil🪻 can also help when it’s time for us to get that restful sleep.
Show me your bottle and I’ll show you mine? ’Til next time! 😉
xo, L
References:
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10528427/
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0958166920301166
