Body’s Rhythm Through Every 24 Hours

This article will explain what our bodies go through in one day – aka 24 hours.

Just like the coming and going of the tides, the phases of the moon switching from full to new, and the weather and seasons endlessly changing, our bodies also function in cycles.

But sometimes we forget this connection and our similarities with other occurrences and species in nature.

We tend to think that, thanks to our intellectual capabilities, we went above and beyond nature and successfully left Mother Earth’s (metaphorical) nest.

Of course, this is partly true. Life standards have improved, life expectancy is longer than it was, and we’ve managed to cure many diseases.

Then again, in this day and age, several new physical illnesses are occurring. And there is a ‘pandemic’ of mental diseases.

One of the reasons is that we have lost touch with nature and the fact that we are a part of it.

We forget that sometimes no amount of knowledge and science can help us if we do not listen to our bodies and read the signals they tirelessly send.

Just like animals and plants, we have a natural cycle and internal clock. Their effects on the body and mind are known as circadian rhythms.

In the next section, we will discuss this phenomenon.

What Are Circadian Rhythms?

The word circadian is derived from the Latin words circa, which means ‘approximately’, and dies, which means ‘day’.

Circadian rhythms are changes in the body, brain, and behavior that occur on a 24-hour cycle.

These biological functions largely react to light and darkness; one of the best-known examples is the sleep-wake cycle.

We sleep when it is dark outside and are awake while there is light.

You’ve probably read that you should avoid exposing yourself to screens before sleeping. Here is the science behind this tip.

Almost every organ and tissue in our body has a biological clock – a group of molecules connected and interacting with the cells.

A master clock helps control and keep all those biological clocks in sync. It consists of a number of nerve cells that create a structure named the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN).

The SCN is placed in the hypothalamus (a part of the brain) and receives light cues from the environment through the eyes.

So when our eyes detect dark, they send a message to our brain to start producing melatonin – the hormone that helps us sleep.

However, when the eyes sense light (whether natural daylight or a screen light), they instruct the brain to ease up with the sleep hormone.

In short, the reason to avoid scrolling on your phone or bingeing a show on TV or your computer: the light might confuse our body into thinking it is daylight – not the right time for sleeping.

Besides circadian rhythms conditioning our sleep patterns, they also greatly impact hormone release, body temperature, digestion, and other vital processes.

Human health may suffer if the rhythms deviate from their intended course. They have been connected to a number of illnesses, such as diabetes, obesity, and depression.

The day and night and sleep and wake phases explain the two stages our bodies go through in one day (24 hours).

But in terms of digestion, every 24 hours, we experience three natural bodily cycles: elimination, appropriation, and assimilation.

These stages are crucial to our eating and drinking habits and therefore our overall health and well-being.

In the next sections, we will thoroughly discuss every stage of this cycle.

Elimination: Hours Between 4 am and 12 pm

During the hours between 4 am and 12 pm, your body is in the elimination cycle. This time frame is crucial for detoxification and toxin release.

This does not mean you shouldn’t eat or drink during this period. It means you should choose the food that supports the elimination processes that are happening in your body.

Choose food and beverages that won’t burden digestion and will aid the cleansing cycle. These include mostly fresh fruit and green smoothies and juices.

A lot of people experience feeling groggy accompanied by bad breath when waking up in the morning. Those are the signs that your body is going through the elimination process and carrying the toxins through your blood.

This stage is the most important for maintaining health and preventing the development of diseases.

Our body is powerful in curing and cleansing itself, but that doesn’t mean we can be passive spectators.

When you wake up, you have an important decision to make – the content of your breakfast.

It is up to you if you will eat something unhealthy and make it difficult for your body to continue eliminating the unwanted materials from your blood or if you will make the right choice and help your digestion.

Breakfast truly is the most important meal of the day. The word itself indicates that you are breaking the fast (that you’ve been experiencing while sleeping).

So choose wisely what you will eat in the morning.

Appropriation: Hours Between 12 pm and 8 pm

The appropriation cycle occurs during the hours between 12 pm and 8 pm. We are most alert, engaged, and present at this time, which makes us effective at digesting and metabolizing food.

In this time frame, most people have two important meals – lunch and dinner, and probably some snacks.

Our energy is at its peak in this period, so it is important to divide it wisely. If you forget to eat regularly and have a huge, unhealthy meal at some point, you will probably spend the rest of your day and energy digesting the food.

You will feel tired and unable to focus on other tasks such as work, going to the gym, running errands, and all other activities that typically occur at this time of day.

In order to maximize your energy, choose frequent meals, smaller portions, and of course healthy and nutritionally dense dishes.

This way, your body will not lose much energy in breaking down the food, and you will have enough stamina to successfully carry out all the daily activities and chores.

Assimilation: Hours Between 8 pm and 4 am

During the hours between 8 pm and 4 am, we experience the assimilation cycle.

In this phase, our bodies absorb the essential nutrients from the food we ate that day and then transfer them to the cells through blood.

During this stage, we assimilate the healthy and necessary materials from what we consumed. The rest – the toxins and waste materials await Elimination (the next part of the cycle).

As we’ve mentioned before, you might have heard tips like ‘avoid looking at screens before bedtime’ and ‘don’t skip breakfast, it is the most important meal of the day’ without realizing they are closely tied with circadian rhythms.

You’ve also probably heard that you should eat dinner early and not right before going to bed. This one has something to do with the assimilation cycle.

When we eat dinner early, our body has enough time to digest the food and prepare for Assimilation.

Then the nutrients can be sent successfully to our organs and cells, and the toxins are ready for the next phase when they will be eliminated from the body.

Conclusion

Our bodies have amazing abilities to heal, restore and cleanse themselves.

The body knows and feels the best time of day for rest, nourishment, and other crucial processes that keep us alive and healthy.

Circadian rhythms are changes in the body, brain, and behavior that occur on a 24-hour cycle.

Thanks to the sleep-wake cycle our brain produces the sleep hormone (melatonin) when it is dark and wakes us up when a new day begins.

Our body’s rhythm is also essential for our digestion, overall health, and eating habits.

In 24 hours, the human body goes through 3 cycles: Elimination, Appropriation, and Assimilation.

The first one occurs during the hours between 4 am and 12 pm and is in charge of eliminating the toxins from our body.

In this period it is best to consume fruit and green vegetables.

The second one (12 pm to 8 pm) is the period when our energy is at its peak and when we eat the most.

During Appropriation, we should frequently consume small portions of healthy food and keep our energy levels from fluctuating.

The last cycle (8 pm to 4 am) is when we absorb the nutrients from the food we consumed earlier and send them by blood to our cells.

It is best to have an early dinner, so the food is already digested and ready for this phase once the cycle starts.

The phases of the everlasting cycle imply that we should all be more mindful of what type of food and beverages we consume.

In order to be healthy and thrive, we should learn to listen to our bodies and the rhythms by which they function.