What are so-called "circadian rhythms"?
Circadian rhythms are physical, mental and behavioral changes that follow a 24-hour cycle. These natural processes primarily respond to light and darkness and affect humans. An example of a light-related circadian rhythm is sleeping at night and waking during the day. Circadian rhythms are regulated by “biological clocks”, molecular entities made up of specific molecules (proteins) that interact with cells throughout the body.
What functions of our body do they affect?
- Release of hormones
- Eating habits, digestion, metabolism
- Body temperature
Factors that disrupt or confound circadian rhythms
- Mutations in specific genes (proteins)
- Jet lag, working in shifts
- Radiation from electronic devices
These changes can cause sleep disturbances and thus lead to other chronic health conditions, such as obesity, diabetes, depression, bipolar disorder, and seasonal affective disorder.
Nutritional factors
A lot of evidence links eating patterns, food ingredients, and biological clocks. Changes in feeding schedules, for example from shift work or the constant availability of highly palatable foods, send strong feedback to regional molecular clocks. Thus, systematically, metabolic processes are misaligned. Loss of coordination between the body and its environment results in tissue misalignment, and can cause cardiometabolic disease as a consequence.
Furthermore, the circadian clock controls food processing and energy homeostasis by regulating the expression and/or activity of enzymes involved in cholesterol, amino acid, lipid, glycogen, and glucose metabolism. In addition, many hormones involved in metabolism, such as insulin, glucagon, adiponectin, corticosterone, leptin, and ghrelin, exhibit circadian oscillation. In addition, disruption of circadian rhythms is implicated in the development of cancer, metabolic syndrome, and obesity.