The time you work out can help set your body clock, according to new research in the Journal of Physiology. Lead author Shawn Youngstedt says the findings suggest exercise could counter the effects of jet lag, shift work and other disruptions to the body's internal clock -- helping people adjust to shifted schedules.
This study finds that exercising at 7 in the morning or between 1 and 4 in the afternoon advances the body clock to an earlier time and working out between 7 and 10 pm delayed the body clock to a later time. Researchers say exercising between 1 and 4 am and at 10 am, had little impact on the body clock. The impact did not change based on age or gender.
The researchers at University of California, San Diego and Arizona State University says further research will look at combining exercise with bright lights and melatonin to see what impact that has on body clocks, as well as looking at the impact of exercise duration and intensity has the body clock.