Breakfast (break-the-fast) is a word that reminds us that it used to be common practice to fast nightly from 7 pm to 7 am.
The power of our digestive fires follows the sun, and they both peak at noon. This suggests a light breakfast, a large mid-day meal and a light dinner. Not eating enough can make us crabby or nauseous or give us headaches or heart palpitations. Eating too much can dampen our digestive fires. How much is too much? To see how much food your stomach is designed to hold at one time, hold both of your hands- little fingers together- in front of you like a scoop. Also, a burp is your stomach telling you that you are finished eating. Ideally our last meal is at least three hours before bed and that is what gives us our nightly fast – from 7 pm to 7 am. Try it; it also does much to relieve morning grogginess and stiffness.