Improving blood sugar markers and heart health is hard for some because they have trouble cutting back on what they eat. But a new study shows when you eat is more important than how much. Researches at Northwestern University discovered that by adjusting your meal timing to line up with your circadian rhythm you can improve your cardiovascular and metabolic functioning.

That means you can improve blood sugar markers and heart health without changing your caloric intake.

The study showed that adults at a higher risk of cardiometabolic disease were aided by two simple morning and evening practices. First, they were asked to extend their overnight fast by two hours in the morning before eating. In the evening, they were asked to dim their lights and not eat for three hours prior to bedtime.

The result was improved measures of cardiovascular and metabolic health while sleeping as well as during the day.

"Timing our fasting window to work with the body's natural wake-sleep rhythms can improve the coordination between the heart, metabolism and sleep, all of which work together to protect cardiovascular health," said first author Dr. Daniela Grimaldi, research associate professor of neurology in the division of sleep medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.

"It's not only how much and what you eat, but also when you eat relative to sleep that is important for the physiological benefits of time-restricted eating," said corresponding author Dr. Phyllis Zee, director of the Center for Circadian and Sleep Medicine and the chief of sleep medicine in the department of neurology at Feinberg.

Poor cardiometabolic health has been shown to lead to a long list of chronic conditions such as type 2 diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and cardiovascular diseases.

Participants were able to adhere to the study requirements at a 90 percent rate which showed it is an attainable and sustainable practice.

During the nearly 8 week study, the participants experienced several positive benefits. Nighttime blood pressure and heart rate decreased, which are two signs of improved cardiovascular health. And the body's ability to handle glucose during the day was improved as well, which was especially good for those struggling with blood sugar control.

Click here to read more in the journal Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology.