A few months ago, I first heard the concept of "circadian clock": a clock that exists in our body and is related to a variety of physiological processes, including an effect on the digestive system.

This "clock" is completely scientific and is linked to influencing processes in the body such as the release of hormones, regulation of intestinal motility, secretion of stomach acids, secretion of digestive enzymes, etc. Science has found a connection between processes in the body related to the digestive system and the hours of day and night, sunlight, physical activity, and more.

I was very interested in understanding the circadian clock because Chinese medicine also talks about a "clock" that exists in our body and that it is advisable to do certain activities, such as eating and sleeping, at certain times.

I've read quite a bit about the circadian clock and it supports what Chinese medicine says. Here are the main points:

*At night, there is a decrease in intestinal activity, so it is advisable to finish eating in the evening and not later in order to adapt ourselves to the rhythm of the digestive system.

*It is important to eat meals at regular times to regulate the digestive system.

*When we do not sleep according to the hours our body is programmed for (shift work or lack of sleep), there is an increased risk of reflux, disruption of intestinal motility, and changes in the composition of intestinal bacteria.

One last and interesting fact - sufficient exposure to daylight has a positive effect on food digestion. If we are not exposed to enough daylight (for example, we work in an office all day), our food digestion can be less efficient. This is not about digestive problems that can arise, but about the absorption of food components.

So, as Chinese medicine has always known to tell us (and it's important to hear this from science as well): correct lifestyle habits are important.

I am attaching a link to an article published in a gastroenterologist's journal with a lot of information about the circadian clock and its connection to many processes in the body:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32134798/