May be suitable for people with gastrointestinal problems
According to a recent report from nutritionists, some people should not stick to three meals a day, but switch to six or ten meals a day. This is suitable for those who experience early satiety after eating a small amount of food. Regular meals in smaller portions, experts say, reduce symptoms of gastrointestinal diseases.
Although the vast majority of people eat three times a day, experts suggest that some would be better off eating six to ten times smaller meals.
People who experience early satiety or fullness after eating small amounts of food, or those trying to lose weight, should try eating six to 10 times a day. For example, people with gastroparesis can eat according to this scheme. Patients with gastrointestinal problems that cause vomiting, nausea or bloating may also benefit from this dietary format. Research has shown that eating smaller meals regularly reduces these symptoms.
Eating larger meals is thought to increase feelings of fullness and improve metabolism, as well as help people lose weight. The question of how many times a day a person should eat has long been discussed by nutritionists.
In a recent commentary by Mississippi expert Lindsey DeSoto, the conclusion seems clear: For most people, eating three meals a day is fine. A wealth of epidemiological evidence in recent years has shown that, overall, eating three balanced meals a day is most strongly associated with a healthy weight and a lower risk of disease. However, DeSoto adds that there are specific cases, as mentioned above, where little and often is better.
Metabolism is the conversion of food into energy in the body. Eating more frequently stimulates your metabolism, which prevents it from going into starvation mode. When you go hours without eating, your body's natural reaction is to slow down your metabolic rate to save energy.
Reducing the number of meals you eat may help digestion in people with gastroparesis because the stomach breaks down less per meal, making it more manageable.
One study of 305 gastroparesis patients found that those who ate less often during the day , on average, had higher scores for the symptoms of stomach fullness, excessive post-meal fullness, bloating, and constipation.
The recommendations were based on a 2017 study published in the journal Nutrition in Clinical Practice conducted by Brigham researchers and Women's Hospital in Boston.
Another purported benefit of eating smaller and more frequent meals is maintaining stable blood sugar levels, which regulates energy levels throughout the day and prevents sugar cravings.
Some experts believe that athletes will also benefit from frequent, smaller meals. According to the International Society of Sports Nutrition, as long as protein levels are adequate, it can help maintain muscle mass.