Lunar variations in the nutrient intakes and the meal patterns of huma
ns were investigated by reanalyzing the data previously collected by p
aying 694 adult humans to maintain a 7-day diary of everything they at
e, when they ate it, and their subjective state of hunger. A small but
significant lunar rhythm of nutrient intake was observed with an 8% i
ncrease in meal size and a 26% decrease in alcohol intake at the time
of the full moon relative to the new moon. This effect was present for
meals ingested either during the daytime or the evening, indicating t
hat nocturnal illumination level was not the critical variable. The re
sults suggest that there is a true internal lunar rhythm which influen
ces nutrient intakes of normal humans free-living in their natural env
ironments.