This refers to the strategic avoidance of nutrient intake during specific periods, particularly before or during the initial hours of the nocturnal rest phase, to intentionally minimize or suppress anabolic processes. This deliberate timing aims to shift the body’s metabolic state towards catabolism and repair, optimizing hormonal signals associated with fasting and cellular cleanup. It is a targeted approach within chrononutrition to leverage the body’s natural metabolic shift.
Origin
This concept synthesizes principles from endocrinology, which studies hormone action, and chrononutrition, which focuses on the timing of food intake relative to the circadian clock. The term highlights the physiological goal of suppressing anabolism, or building-up processes, at a time when the body is naturally less insulin-sensitive. Suppression implies a reduction of the building phase, and timing denotes the critical temporal aspect.
Mechanism
Late-night nutrient consumption triggers insulin release, a potent anabolic hormone, but its action is often impaired due to the body’s natural nocturnal insulin resistance. By suppressing this late anabolic signal, the body can maintain lower circulating insulin levels, promoting the release of counter-regulatory hormones like growth hormone. This metabolic state facilitates cellular repair mechanisms such as autophagy and supports improved fat oxidation during the dark phase.
We use cookies to personalize content and marketing, and to analyze our traffic. This helps us maintain the quality of our free resources. manage your preferences below.
Detailed Cookie Preferences
This helps support our free resources through personalized marketing efforts and promotions.
Analytics cookies help us understand how visitors interact with our website, improving user experience and website performance.
Personalization cookies enable us to customize the content and features of our site based on your interactions, offering a more tailored experience.