It is no secret that eating nutritious foods is good for your health because of all of the vitamins, minerals, and fiber they contain. However, did you know that when you eat is just as important to your well-being? Why?
Take eating breakfast, for instance. Getting this first meal of the day not only helps you lose weight because you’re stoking your metabolism and fending off mid-morning hunger, but it also gives your body the nutrients it needs to have enough energy to get through your daily tasks and chores. In other words, don’t eat and you’re going to be dragging your feet.
Three Square Meals?
Traditionally, the advice has been to eat three square meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) and to avoid snacking or eating late at night as that will “pack on the pounds.” But years of research have altered this recommendation, and now a lot of health experts are suggesting that eating every 3-4 hours is better when it comes to your health.
Part of the reasoning behind this change in advice is that eating regular meals keeps your blood sugar stable, reducing your risk of diabetes, and keeping you from enduring those hard-to-fight cravings. Of course, what you choose to eat at these mini-meals matters, so try to include a protein and complex carb in each one for the best health benefits while curbing your appetite.
Exercise-Related Meals
You’ll want to make sure you get a light snack prior to working out in order to give your body the energy it needs. Plus, you’ll also benefit from following up your exercise sessions with some quality protein that your muscles will soak up like a sponge, making it easy for them to recover and grow quickly and effectively.
So, while what you eat is important to your overall health and wellness, so too is when you eat. What eating “guidelines” do you generally follow to feel your best?
