Snacking between meals has a bad image, especially when you’re trying to pay attention to your diet. But a recent study published in the European Journal of Nutrition underlines that eating outside of three daily meals is not necessarily harmful to the metabolism: provided you choose your snack wisely, and choose your time wisely!
In total, 854 people eating a balanced and healthy diet were studied by the researchers. Many of them snacked, but the impact was not the same for everyone. A quarter of them chose poor quality snacks, three of which were highlighted by the study: packaged salty foods (like crisps), sugary drinks and even sweets. The most harmful hour according to researchers? It’s after 9 p.m.resumes The National News website. In this case, having a healthy diet on the side loses all its point, they note.
Is snacking beneficial?
But what researchers insist on is above all that snacking can be beneficial and that it should stop being stigmatized. It is not associated with “unfavorable blood cardiometabolic or anthropometric markers” if the snack is of good quality. It could even help you manage your hunger, and therefore eat in smaller quantities at meal time. Nuts and seeds, fruits or even fresh vegetables would be good snacksbeneficial for regulating your appetite.
The researchers note that those who snack on these ingredients even tend to have a more reasonable weight than those who do not consume any snacks. Other information: snacking in the morning would be preferable, they note.
Sources: European Journal Nutrition
