Watches are not a human invention, they are a learning and adoption elements of existing methods exist in nature. Nature is entirely governed by clocks: day and night, seasons, plant lifecycle, animals behavior, all have biological inner-clocks.
Until two weeks ago, I thought that nature had forgotten that its time for spring to arrive - the heavy rain and strong winds that hit California nearly skipped my favorite season, spring. But the trees and blooming flowers didn't give up, and acted according to their own clock. In a conversation with a patient of mine, he said that plants work according to the sun clock and despite the cold and rain, the days lengthen, which stimulates the blooming plant.
But today's post is not about botany, but about the topic of the biological clock of eating, which is part of our biological clock.
Our body, like all living beings in nature, needs two things to survive: oxygen and a source of energy. While oxygen is brought to us through the heart clock, one of the central clocks in the body (which is also located in the center), the clock for consuming sources of energy is governed by the release of hunger hormones: Ghrelin and Leptin.
Ghrelin is the hunger hormone and plays a central role in appetite regulation and body weight and is secreted in the digestive system. Ghrelin also stimulates the release of the growth hormone in children. When it is secreted, digestive juices in the mouth (saliva) are also secreted, preparing the mouth for food intake.
Leptin is responsible for satiety (the satisfaction hormone). It also regulates the immune system, helps create new blood vessels, and bone development. The leptin hormone is secreted in the body's fat tissues in response to an increase in blood sugar levels.
The body's clock during high stress and lack of sleep
In situations of emotional or physical stress, the hormone cortisol is released, which decreases the release of leptin and disrupts the optimal balance of leptin. As a result, we usually eat more than our body needs and gain weight. In extreme high stress, ghrelin hormone may also be disrupted and as a result, we stop eating and loose energy.
Lack of sleep also causes a decrease in leptin hormone levels, leading to an increased feeling of hunger that leads to more eating and an increase in fat accumulation due to further disruption of leptin levels.
Therefore, when we are in situations of chronic stress or lack of sleep, our body demands more sources of energy, and we gain weight.
What happens when we don't listen to our body clock?
When we don't listen to our body's signals, such as not sleeping when we need to, not handling stress, or not eating at regular times, over time our hormones secretion stop, and our body loses its natural balance. When we don't eat at regular times that our body needs or have an imbalanced diet (a meal rich in protein, dietary fiber, healthy fat, and complex carbohydrates), over time we start to feel hungry shortly after eating, and we begin to snack between meals. Snacking keeps our blood sugar levels high, and over time, in addition to weight gain, we are at risk of developing type-2 diabetes.
If you feel that you need help building a healthy body schedule, contact me for free consultation and together we will bring your body back to balance.
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