We know from strict scientific experiment the hours before sleep are crucial in terms of digestion and of metabolism. Metabolism refers to how quickly your body breaks down elements of food into the energy we require for our daily lives. Some people have a very fast metabolic rate. These people experience quick weight loss, as their bodies very quickly use whatever food is put in for energy in life. Others have a slower metabolic rate. For these people, it may seem as though if they even smell a brownie they gain weight!

Knowing what times of the day or night to eat may help your body break down food more quickly and easily. This in turn helps you to lose weight if this is your goal, or to gain weight, if this is the desired result.

The hours before bed are crucial in determining which way your body will work with food from that day. If you eat before bed you are telling your body to slow down and pack on some pounds. Science also tells us that eating before bed slows down a chemical which is important for creating an optimistic frame of mind. In other words, if you eat before bed you may be encouraging more than a few extra pounds and the dismay that brings. You may be encouraging depression.

Food before bed-time then, is not usually a good idea. The exception may be if you are a person with a high metabolic rate and you know you have not eaten enough that day. Then a light snack before bed will keep away the hunger pangs that interfere with sleep. Avoid fruit or vegetables late in the evening. Try instead toast, a light cereal, or something hot like a bowl of soup to warm your insides and allow you to fall off to sleep easily, without disturbing your body's time of cleansing and balancing the internal systems.

Then in the morning the best thing to put into your stomach right away is a little pure fresh water with a squeeze of lemon. You may want to include a dash (1/4 tsp) of cayenne pepper and/or a little maple syrup to boost the taste. This easy and quick morning drink supports your body's natural cleansing time which is in the morning hours. Following this with freshly squeezed fruit juice, or a combination of juices, puts the digestion on the right track. Most people who have studied food combining know fruit is the diva of the food world: it argues with every other food. Therefore, eat fruit on its own and leave at least twenty minutes before having breakfast.

It may seem like a lot of small things to consider in the morning when you are rushing off to work, but consider: first a swish of lemon and water, then a drink of fruit juice. The morning shower and other routines take place and then you eat breakfast. By this time, you will find the juices have worked their wonder and you feel appetite. Be sure to include ample protein in your breakfast to give your body the continual energy needed for the rest of the day. Protein in the morning also helps eliminate those sugar cravings and makes it easier to lose weight.