from University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
You may have heard the phrase, “you are what you eat.” Surprisingly, it may also pertain to when you eat. A study of laboratory animals suggests eating at abnormal times disrupts the biological clock of the skin, specifically daytime levels of an enzyme that protects against the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays. Researchers at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center say the finding suggests people who eat late at night may be more vulnerable to sunburn and longer-term effects including skin cancer. Dr. Joseph Takahashi, chair of Neuroscience at UT Southwestern, said the finding was surprising—that he didn’t think the skin was paying attention to when we are eating. So, sunbathers may want to avoid the midnight snacks.