Cave Man Food Timing: The Key To Fat Shredding Metabolism And Limitless Energy
Have you ever asked yourself, “Why in the world am I so tired all the time?”
If I am really honest, I’ve asked myself the same question but each time I do, I follow it up with two additional questions.
- What foods have I consumed in the last 48 hours; and
- What times did I consume them?
For the most part, if you’re asking these questions and being brutally honest with yourself then 95% of the time you’ll get part of the answer (they’re are multiple factors here but for this discussion I’m addressing the nutritional part). A great place to start in understanding our bodies is the past. Our ancestors had a lifestyle that was built around survival in a dangerous environment where food was scarce at times. This lifestyle was highlighted by certain features that included dietary and working habits.
Cave Man Food Timing
Our hunter-gatherer ancestors were very active during daylight hours. During the nighttime hours they feasted when food was plentiful. The nervous system has developed to keep kinetic energy systems high during daylight hours while digestive and recovery systems are prioritized at night. Meal planning should revolve around the natural congruency of the bodies neurological systems for optimal physical energy, digestion and immunity.
Daytime hours were very important for travel, building shelters and finding food sources. The tribesman stayed at the camp during the nighttime hours for shelter and safety from wild animals. The daytime hours saw high energy expenditure that is characterized by the human sympathetic nervous system.
The nighttime hours were a time of relaxation and feasting characterized by the human parasympathetic nervous system. This system also enhances the desire to reproduce and allows for restorative sleep, tissue healing and repair. Certain types of foods work well with the sympathetic nervous system while others are congruent with the parasympathetic nervous system.
The Ultimate Daytime Nutrition
Foods that work in harmony with the body during daylight hours include raw fruits and vegetables as well as liquids and fast absorbing proteins. Raw fruits and non-starchy vegetables consist primarily of simple carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, enzymes and phytonutrient anti-oxidants. These foods are very easy on the digestive system and take very little digestive juices and enzymes.
Juiced veggies or liquid nutrition such as coconut, hemp and almond milk are very easy on the digestive system as well. Coconut is the best source of fat during the daytime hours because it is composed of primarily medium-chain saturated fats that do not depend on bile production to metabolize effectively. The good fats in coconut products take away hunger by naturally stimulating feelings of satiety.
The best daytime proteins are those that are fast absorbing and put minimal stress on the bodies digestive system. This includes vegetable juices, sprouted seeds and algae such as chlorella and spirulina. The best animal proteins include fermented, undenatured dairy sources like amasai kefir, & yogurt from grass-fed animals. High quality, non-denatured whey protein from grass-fed animals is a phenomenal whole-food supplement during the day due to its fast absorption and amino acid bioavailability.
The Best Nighttime Nutrition
Foods that work in harmony with the body during nighttime hours are warmer, thicker and hardier. The body is in no need for physical exertion and can shunt more energy into the digestive processes. This is a great time for cruciferous veggies such as broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, brussel sprouts, etc. that digest more effectively when they are lightly steamed or sautéed.
High quality proteins and thicker fats that depend on adequate bile to be metabolized are eaten at night. This includes grass-fed beef, wild-game, organic eggs, free-range poultry, & wild-fish. Raw cheese, organic eggs, nuts and seeds are great fat/protein combinations that supply great long lasting amino acid release that keeps the body in an anabolic phase of healing and repair through the nighttime hours. All of these proteins depend on lots of stomach acid, bile (if they are fatty), and proteolytic enzymes to metabolize effectively.
The body works best when it can store these enzymes and acids for a 16-24 hour period. Ideally, one large meal per day at night when the body has begun relaxing and the parasympathetic nervous system is turned on works best on the digestive system. Raw, fermented veggies, coconut kefir, and/or apple cider vinegar should either be used before this large evening meal or during the meal to supply extra enzymes and microorganisms that aid in digestion.
Starchy grains are acceptable in the evening in small quantities. The best starches to use include sweet potato, squash, brown rice, quinoa, or millet.
All Cheese is Not Created Equal
Raw cheese from grass-fed animals that do not contain beta casein A1 are a phenomenal nighttime calorie source. These cheeses contain high quality omega 3 fatty acids EPA & DHA to support neurological development. They also contain enormous amounts of conjugated linoleic acid that boosts metabolism and enhances immunity. The protein quality of the Beta Casein A2 is very high in raw cheese due to the enzymes and probiotics that are present due to the fermentation process. Finally, casein releases amino acids slowly keeping the body in an anabolic phase for 4-8 hours after consumption.
Food Timing & Energy
Want to stop feeling tired and instead have all day energy? Eating the foods suggested above at the suggested times can have a massive impact on your energy levels. The energy levels of the health participants I work with often do a complete 180 when they start to implement the suggestions above!
However information is nothing without action!
And small steps build on each other to end up with massive progress so choose one of the above tips that you are going to implement this week and let me know which one you have chosen over on my Facebook page HERE.
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