More than one-third of adults suffer from metabolic syndrome, which includes conditions such as high blood pressure, high blood sugar, high cholesterol, and obesity, increasing the risk of heart attack, stroke, and type 2 diabetes.
American scientists have recently published a study in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine, revealing a simple way to reduce stroke risk. According to the scientific site Science Alert, this research offers new hope in preventing serious health conditions. This discovery could pave the way for more effective approaches. Let’s explore how to protect health through these advanced studies.
A research team from the Salk Institute and the University of California San Diego conducted a three-month trial involving 108 individuals with metabolic syndrome, averaging 59 years of age.
All participants received nutritional counseling, but one group followed a time-restricted eating regimen, while a control group maintained their usual eating schedule.
Time-restricted eating for 8 – 10 hours significantly improved metabolic syndrome. (PHOTO: PEXELS)
Before the study began, participants’ average eating window was over 14 hours (for example, breakfast at 6 AM and dinner at 8 PM).
Upon entering the study, the time-restricted group reduced their eating window to 8 – 10 hours (for example, breakfast at 8 AM and dinner between 4 – 6 PM).
Reducing the Risk of Stroke, Heart Attack, and Diabetes
The results were promising; time-restricted eating for 8 – 10 hours a day significantly improved metabolic syndrome, thereby reducing the risk of stroke, heart attack, and diabetes.
Specifically, at the end of the study, the time-restricted group showed improvements in key biological markers related to blood sugar and cholesterol levels, as well as better long-term blood sugar regulation.
They also lost weight, reduced abdominal fat, and experienced a greater decrease in body mass index without losing muscle mass—all contributing to a reduced risk of heart attack, stroke, and diabetes.
Significantly, they also improved their average blood sugar level, HbA1c, meaning a decreased risk of developing type 2 diabetes or slowing the progression of the disease, as reported by Science Alert.
Biologist Satchidananda Panda from the Salk Institute explained: “The reason changing meal times yields such remarkable results is that the body processes sugars and fats very differently depending on the time of day.”
The authors note that this is a promising start that most people can easily try.
Professor Pam Taub, a cardiologist at the University of California, stated: “Patients with metabolic syndrome face cardiovascular risk factors such as high blood pressure, high blood sugar, abdominal fat, high cholesterol, and low levels of good cholesterol. If left untreated, this can lead to serious and chronic conditions such as heart attacks, strokes, and diabetes.”
Researchers believe that this method could be an easy-to-implement way to manage metabolic syndrome, requiring only a change in eating times without altering food types, according to Science Alert.
