Evidence
against the warrior diet being conducive to normal human circadian rhythm
optimization
Based on the
physiology of the light entrainable oscillator (LEO) of the suprachiasmic
nucleus (SCN) of the human brain, we are night time sleepers. During the day, sunlight entering our eyes
causes a decrease of melatonin production in our brains. Melatonin is a chemical that promotes
sleepiness, so when it is low during the day we are more alert and awake. During the dark hours, melatonin increases in
our brains and we get sleepier.
Another
effect of a normal circadian cycle is core body temperature (CBT)
oscillation. CBT peaks during the day
and troughs during the night. The bigger
the amplitude of CBT the higher the sleep quality is. The architecture of higher quality sleep
includes higher percentages of slow wave sleep (SWS) and rapid eye movement
(REM) sleep.
There is a
food entrainable oscillator (FEO) in the peripheral tissues of the body as well. The intake of food is the zietgeber or time
giver for the FEO, and the FEO can be in synchrony with the LEO, or it can be
out of synch depending on the timing of said food intake.
The effects
on sleep of asynchrony between the LEO and FEO were illustrated in a study
titled “Sleep during Ramadan intermittent fasting” by Roky et al. In the study, they observed a decrease in
sleep quality and CBT amplitudes of the subjects during the night time only
eating period of Ramadan. Night time
eating interfered with night time sleeping.
Another
study titled “Alterations of internal circadian phase relationships after
morning versus evening carbohydrate rich meals in humans” by Krauchi et al,
observed that the evening carb rich meal caused a significant decrease of the
CBT amplitude resulting primarily from an increased night time trough. That means poorer sleep after the evening
meal.
Another
study, more pertinent to the warrior diet’s central premise concerning the
autonomic nervous system, is titled “Effect of insulin and glucose infusions on
sympathetic nervous system activity in normal man”. In it, Rowe et al show evidence that
increased plasma insulin causes an increase in SNS activity. Eating carbohydrates causes an
increase in plasma insulin which causes an increase in SNS activity, whereas,
fasting and carbohydrate restriction stimulates parasympathetic nervous system activity
via a reduction of plasma insulin. This
is the opposite of warrior diet theology.
So, eating a
majority of one’s calories at night before bed time is antagonistic to night
time sleep quality and optimal circadian rhythms.
Why should
anyone care? Circadian rhythm disruption
is associated with a host of diseases of civilization including cancer and
cardiovascular disease, the two leading causes of mortality and morbidity in
the U.S.
I believe God speaks to us through the results of science too.
Those who have eyes will see. Those who have ears will hear...
