Does Your Gut Have a Circadian Rhythm?

Yes, your gut has its own circadian rhythm. It follows a roughly 24-hour cycle that determines when it digests food, absorbs nutrients, produces enzymes, repairs its lining and rests. This clock operates independently from the one in your brain, and it's set primarily by when you eat rather than when you see daylight. If you've noticed that your digestion feels sharper in the morning and sluggish at night, or that eating late leaves you bloated, you're feeling this rhythm in action. Your gut houses around 70% of your immune cells and produces roughly 90% of your body's serotonin. When this...