CHICAGO, IL (WOWO) — Abstaining from food for at least three hours before bedtime could improve heart health, according to a study from Northwestern University. Researchers found that middle-aged and older adults who extended their overnight fast by two hours experienced lower blood pressure and more natural nighttime heart rate patterns. The intervention also improved daytime blood sugar control.
The study, published in the journal Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology, followed 39 participants over nearly eight weeks, with 80% of the group being women. Participants either extended their overnight fast to 13 to 16 hours or maintained a habitual 11- to 13-hour fast, with lights dimmed three hours before sleep.
Researchers noted that the fasting participants’ hearts beat faster during daytime activity and slowed appropriately at night, a pattern associated with better cardiovascular health. The study authors emphasized the importance of aligning fasting with natural sleep-wake rhythms to optimize metabolism and heart function…