Heart-Health Scientist Tests 3 Eating Tweaks to Boost Metabolic Health
Nutrition scientist Sarah Berry is testing three eating tweaks—no food after 9 p.m., a 12-hour overnight fast (9 p.m.–9 a.m.), and slower, more deliberate eating—to explore how meal timing and pace influence heart and metabolic health. Early daytime eating is linked to lower LDL cholesterol, lower fasting glucose, and better insulin sensitivity, while late meals may disrupt circadian rhythms and raise chronic-disease risk. Evidence for longer fasts is largely from animal studies, and strict eating rules can be risky for those with disordered eating.