Eating during the day instead of at night boosts mental health, according to new research. A study found symptoms of depression and anxiety rise by 26 and 16 per cent respectively after evening meals.
It suggests consuming food before going to bed is bad for the brain, say US scientists. Shift workers and long-distance travellers are prone to neurological diseases - including dementia. It disrupts the body clock - or 'circadian rhythms'.
Lead author Professor Frank Scheer, of Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, said: "Our findings provide evidence for the timing of food intake as a novel strategy to potentially minimise mood vulnerability in individuals experiencing circadian misalignment. They include people engaged in shift work, experiencing jet lag or suffering from circadian rhythm disorders."
