Now that it’s getting dark before 5PM again, you might have an excuse not to hit the gym after work. New research suggests that exercising at night might give you a less optimal workout, according to a study by metabolism experts and professors at Northwestern Medicine. The scientists studied muscle tissues in mice, and found that the rodents had circadian clocks in their muscle tissue, which control metabolic responses and energy based on the time of day. The upshot is that muscle cells may be more efficient during normal waking hours.
When mice, which are nocturnal, exercised (yes, the scientists literally put them on treadmills), their muscles were more efficient at adapting to movement, using oxygen for energy, and processing fuel, like sugar and fat. At night, the mice’s muscles actually activated genes that helped them adapt to exercise. Since humans have these same genes, the researchers believe this means humans may also be able to exercise better during our natural, biologically programmed waking hours?i.e. when it’s light out. MORE: Kristin Cavallari’s Diet and Fitness Secrets
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As a result of our inbuilt circadian rhythms, which dictate our energy patterns during day and night, humans’ sleep-wake cycle is triggered by hormones that are released or blocked by exposure to light or dark. So, during summer, when the daylight is long, your muscles might be just fine if you go for an evening run?but in fall and winter, wh...