For those looking to lose excess weight, the “optimal” time for lunch is approximately four to five hours after breakfast. A later meal can make it harder to digest food and encourage snacking before midnight, American nutritionist Lena Bakovich told the Daily Mail.
The doctor noted that if you wake up at seven o’clock in the morning, you will most likely feel acute hunger between twelve and one o’clock in the afternoon. Bakovich added that “postponing” the second main meal often leads to attempts to skip dinner and replace a full meal with high-calorie snacks in the evening.
The nutritionist also referred to the results of a study by Spanish scientists, who found that those who have a late lunch burn fewer calories at rest than those who eat the main meal of the day before 13:00. In addition, the study found that those who ate at 4:30 p.m. had more fluctuating blood sugar levels throughout the day and took longer to convert carbohydrates into energy.
The thing is, going without food for a long time can lead to a sharp spike in blood sugar levels after eating, especially with foods that are high in carbohydrates.
