(NAPSA)—Tapping into your body’s secret rhythm may help you slim down, rev up and feel better than ever. “Research has shown that our internal clocks have a steady, built- in rhythm,” says Michael Smolen- sky, Ph.D., professor of environmental physiology at University of Texas-Houston School of Public Health. “That means there’s a pre- dictable, 24-hour cycle to virtually every single bodily function.” Here are some waysto get in syne with your body clock from the editors at First For Women: e Fat a big breakfast (and a light lunch and dinner) to lose a pound a week. Research shows that food eaten early is converted into heat and energy, while food eaten in the evening is quickly stored as fat. Forget about eating balanced It’s all a matter of timing. Learning more about your inter- meals to make cravings vanish. nal clock may be goodfor you. sugar changes dramatically over high during the day. e Plan your toughest thinking early to be 30 percent more effective. Studies show that mental The body’s ability to control blood the course of a day, and eating a protein-rich breakfast and lunch is one of the best ways to keep it stable. alertness peaks around 10 a.m., e Wake up at the same time making mid-morning the best time sleep-triggering hormone mela- the day to get more accurate results. The morning hours are the best time to get your blood every day to have more energy all week. Your internal clock controls your production of the tonin. Keeping the gap between your wake-up time and bedtime constant ensures that melatonin to deal with difficult subjects. e Tackle medical tests early in pressure and cholesterol checked. Both can vary by 10 points or peaks in the evening hours when more over the day but since high morning readings are the ones get more done. Bask in 30 min- problems, they’re the ones you want to catch andtreat. you really needit. Soak up the morning sun to utes of sun first thing by eating breakfast beside a bright window, drinking your coffee on the patio or going out for a walk. Morning light exposure sets your internal clock, so your body temperature, energy level and alertness stay strongly associated with health e See your dentist in the afternoon to optimize pain relief. Research showsthat local anes- thetics, such as lidocaine, last three times longer if given between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.
