When people talk about being healthy, they usually mention the things they are eating (or not eating). But it seems that the time at which you eat is just as, if not more, important than what you eat.
New research published in the Proceedings of the Nutrition Society suggests that your diet might be failing because you are not sticking to regular mealtimes.
The study found that people who ate inconsistently and at irregular times weighed more, had larger waistlines, and a higher BMI than those who ate regularly throughout the day.
It was found that eating at irregular times actually damages your overall health and could increase your risk of metabolic syndrome and cancer.
The study defines this habit as “food eaten in varying amounts through the day and at different times from one day to the next.”
What can you do to combat this? Experts suggest keeping a food diary to monitor meal times and content.
Researchers also established a link between eating habits and the people we consume food with, concluding that “family meal frequency contributes to more healthy eating among children and adolescents.”
It apparently leads to a higher intake of fruit, veg and dairy as well as a lower consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages.
