### The Role of a Hearty Breakfast in Resetting Your Body Clock and Reducing Jet Lag Symptoms Our internal body clock, or circadian rhythm, helps us feel alert during the day and tired at night. However, travel, shift work, and other disruptions can throw this system off balance, leading to fatigue, insomnia, and other health issues. Over time, these disruptions can increase the risk of serious conditions like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, depression, and cancer. Recent research suggests that meal timing, particularly having a large breakfast, may help reset our body clock. A study published in Chaos found that eating a big meal in the early morning could be key to aligning our body's clocks and combating jet lag. The study's lead author, Dr. Yitong Huang, emphasized the importance of keeping light and feeding cues in sync, such as avoiding eating at night. The researchers used a mathematical model to study how different body clocks interact with each other and external cues. They found that a large morning meal helps align the body's clocks, especially when traveling across time zones. Eating at night, on the other hand, activates the liver clock when the brain clock wants to rest, causing misalignment. This finding supports the growing evidence that eating more in the morning than in the evening is beneficial. It not only helps reset the body clock but also may aid in weight management and blood sugar control. Psychiatrist Dr. Alex Dimitriu noted that previous research in mice showed similar results, where food availability during the day shifted their wakefulness patterns. While more research is needed to determine the exact calorie counts for humans, the general advice is to front-load your daily calories, consuming more in the morning and less at night. The researchers plan to conduct further experiments and potentially develop an app to recommend optimal mealtimes. In summary, adjusting your meal schedule, especially having a hearty breakfast, could be a simple yet effective way to reset your body clock and reduce jet lag symptoms.