Unlocking Your Body's Natural Rhythm: When We Digest and Detox

Our bodies undergo three crucial processes daily, and understanding them can help us make the most of our health:

1. Eating and Digestion – This stage occurs from early afternoon (around 12:00) until evening (20:00) – most of our food is consumed during these hours.

2. Absorption and Utilization – This phase takes place from evening (20:00) until dawn (around 04:00). It’s best not to disrupt this cycle with late-night meals, as they can result in sluggishness and fatigue in the morning due to surplus waste and an inefficient nightly cleansing process. Indeed, Maimonides advised eating like a pauper in the evening: "In the morning eat like a king, at lunch like a prince, and at dinner like a pauper." And to add our own advice: at night, strive not to eat! As much as you can, of course.

3. Body Cleansing – This cycle runs from dawn (around 04:00) until early afternoon (12:00). During these hours, it’s beneficial to consume light foods that aid in cleansing the body, such as drinking vegetable juices and eating fresh fruits. Knowing that excess weight and waste are eliminated during these hours is encouraging, and consuming light, nutritious foods can lead to rapid weight loss and better health.

And regarding breakfast, when should it be consumed for those who routinely eat it? The Talmud states that a common person’s meal is in the fourth hour (from waking), workers’ meals in the fifth hour, and scholars’ meals in the sixth hour (Tractate Pesachim, Page 12b). This shows that the first meal can be scheduled up to the sixth hour from the start of the day. Later scholars explain this is the sixth hour from waking (Mishna Berura Siman 155, Section 5). It’s important to understand that people once rose at sunrise or dawn, making the sixth hour around 10:00 AM.

So, to maintain effective body cleansing in the morning, to summarize: fruits and vegetable juices are great choices to consume before breakfast for those who take it every morning.

Another tip from Maimonides: exercise before breakfast. "One should not eat until he walks before eating, or until his body begins to heat up or he engages in labor or becomes weary from another exertion" (Hilchot De'ot).

For booking house sessions featuring naturopath Ruth Liat Pelzwithout charge), call 073-2221290