Skipping meals is a rather common urban phenomenon that occurs either as a result of the desire to lose weight or simply because of an excessively hectic schedule.
However, people often tend to overlook the fact that missing meals, whatever the reason may be, could have quite an adverse effect on one’s health. The side effects of skipping meals are much more serious than any potential benefits. Some consequences of skipping meals can include promoting the development of diabetes, inadequate nutrition, and drastically altering the way that your body digests food.
Let us see what the possible negative impact could be:
The Risk of Overeating:
If we skip meals to try and lose weight, we are likely to starve ourselves throughout the day. What this will result in is excessive hunger and the need to eat just about anything, especially something with high calories. Now, this would not only defeat our purpose of attempting to lose a few kilos, it will also steer us toward unhealthy eating habits.
Metabolism Malfunction:
Skipping meals to lose weight can affect our metabolism. When we eat regular or designated meals at the appropriate time of the day, our metabolism breaks down the food at a certain pace. Irregularity in meals, skipping meals and not eating too often results in the rate of metabolism slowing down. This is why it is advised that we eat smaller quantities of food at frequent intervals throughout the day. This is the best way to keep our metabolism active and our digestion good.
Lack of Nutrition:
The human body needs a certain amount of nutrition every day in order for all bodily functions to operate smoothly. When the nutrition received is not sufficient, the body falls more prone to sickness and diseases. While supplements exist to balance these needs, there can be no comparison to the richness of green vegetables and fresh fruits.
Drop in Levels of Blood Sugar:
One of the hazardous effects of skipping meals is the possibility of the blood sugar levels dropping drastically. Food consumed is broken into parts by the body, some of which get stored as fat, while others flow into the blood stream, giving the body the energy it requires to function through the day. If the consumption of food will be less, so will the levels of energy produced by the body, resulting in tiredness and lethargy.
In case, we aren’t already convinced, here are 10 reasons why skipping meals is a bad idea. Skipping meals:
o Leads to more cravings, even intense compulsive cravings
o Can cause foggy unfocused thinking
o Makes us more likely to eat all the wrong foods
o Screws up our blood sugar levels creating more irritability
o Sets us up to stuff ourselves at the next meal or snack
o Impedes exercise schedule because of decreased energy in the body
o May cause headaches
o Disrupts digestion and worsens irritable bowel
o Increases gas and bloating when we do finally eat again
o Perpetuates constricting energy and addiction to contempt or self-sabotage
So, are there no positive effects of skipping meals? Well, there could be, but only if the same is done under supervision or guidance of a medical expert. Moreover, the meals need to be skipped in a planned manner. If a meal must be skipped, let it be dinner. Due to the rush to get to work, we may often tend to skip breakfast. However, that is the most important meal of the day and must never be missed. A healthy breakfast ensures that the metabolism functions properly and the body receives its required nutrition.
According to a study described in the December 2007 issue of Metabolism, people who eat only one meal per day are at greater risk of diabetes and experience higher lever levels of hunger. If we are the type of dieter who believes that skipping meals is a healthy weight loss plan and is a quick weight loss tactic, it's time to re-examine you’re eating habits and make health a high priority in our life. Making healthy choices will lead to natural weight loss.
Losing weight and trying to stick to a busy schedule are aspects that must not be allowed to prove obstacles to healthy living. If we must skip meals, follow a diet plan after consulting a professional. If we feel we lack time to eat, make it a point to rise early or set an alarm for our meals, especially lunch. After all, health is foremost when it comes to existence, isn’t it?
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