As Americans prepare to turn their clocks back this weekend, experts say your diet may determine how sluggish or energized you feel in the days ahead. While getting an extra hour of sleep should make you feel more rested, the one-hour daylight saving time shift can actually throw off the body’s circadian rhythm, the internal clock that runs on a 24-hour light-and-dark cycle, especially since many people are already sleep-deprived. According to Tufts University, the result can feel like jet lag, bringing grogginess, hunger swings, slowed metabolism and even mood changes.
Experts warn the effects are particularly pronounced among shift workers, children and teens, older adults, those with sleep or heart conditions and those who frequently travel across different time zones. The disruption to the circadian rhythm can create a cascade of negative impacts on both physical and mental well-being. This is why many health professionals are urging people to take proactive steps to mitigate the effects of the time change.
Neelofer Basaria, a Texas-based public health expert and certified health and wellness coach, explains that the body’s internal circadian rhythm is monitored by light, meal timing, and hormone release. She notes that when we change our external clocks, our internal rhythm can fall behind by several days, making it difficult for the body to adjust.