Image by Lumina / Stocksy June 06, 2026 What if improving your heart health didn't require a boring new diet or an expensive gym membership? According to new research from Northwestern Medicine, it might just come down to when you finish your last meal. "It's not only how much and what you eat, but also when you eat relative to sleep that is important," says Phyllis Zee, Ph.D., M.D. director of the Center for Circadian and Sleep Medicine at Northwestern University, in a press release.