Whelehans pharmacys aisling murray why eating little often is best part 2
Last week I discussed why eating little and often can be a great method to follow to avoid hunger pangs, stabilise your blood sugars and keep your metabolism functioning to the best of its ability. There are also a number of other benefits to eating with a grazing approach such as: Increasing your metabolism.
The body is genetically programed to conserve energy; when food intake is stopped your body needs the conserved energy for Basal metabolism (maintenance of body temperature, function of cells, metabolism of enzymes and hormones to transport proteins and other substances).
By eating little and often you are keeping your blood sugar at a steady level which means your metabolism is continuously working. By skipping meals or not eating something to raise your blood sugar, your metabolic rate can slow down meaning you can hang onto extra weight.
For these reasons I recommend a few small meals throughout the day as this helps to burn more calories when your body is at rest and thus decreases your body fat percentage.
Making weight loss easier
One of the main challenges people face when trying to lose weight is keeping their metabolism steady. Long periods between eating can leave your blood sugars low as previously discussed; this can lead to unhealthy food choice as your body craves an instant sugar hit.
Usually sweets or chocolate bars are the first foods people gravitate towards which can then lead to unnecessary weight gain. Eating little and often stops you from getting too hungry and you can then make healthy nutritious food choices when it comes to snack time.
Continuous energy
When you eat your body uses the food as energy to function. By skipping meals or going too long without eating you can upset your energy levels. When your blood sugars are high you feel energized and when they drop your energy levels plummet.
Eating frequently means you avoid dipping and peaking energy levels; instead you keep sugar levels steady and you feel energised throughout the day. Studies have also showed that grazing (eating little and often) during the day can give you the energy you need for exercise so you can burn extra calories during your workouts.
Keeps your mood stable
A term I frequently use to describe myself if I have gone too long without eating is “Hangry” or hungry- angry. There is a strong scientific connection between food and mood. The brain needs energy in order to function and glucose is what the brain uses for fuel.
So when the sugar in your bloodstream goes down, so does your brainpower and you can get snappy, annoyed and irritable for no reason other than you are hungry. The key is to include complex carbohydrates like fruits, vegetables and whole grains, all of which help maintain levels of serotonin (a mood-boosting chemical) in the brain.
Whelehans Nutrition Service
Whelehans nutritional service is a private one to one advice service with our nutritionist Aisling Murray. Aisling’s areas of interest include weight loss management, nutrition education and food intolerance. Our nutrition service offers you the chance to change your life in an affordable but positive way by focusing on your overall wellbeing as well as the chance to follow up on your progress.
Aisling Murray has a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and offers a one to one specialist nutrition service at Whelehans Pharmacy. Call Whelehans at 04493 34591 for an appointment