THE Romans ate one main meal a day, it听is听said, and any more would have been considered gluttony. They wouldn鈥檛 think much, then, of our modern propensity for听snacking. And they would be right. As we collectively fill our shopping baskets with听morsels to keep us going between meals, even the most health-conscious among us could be munching our way to听an early grave.
The idea that snacking can be healthy is听heavily promoted by an industry that packages and brands snack products as a听good way to fuel your day. Marketed as high in protein, or containing only fruit, for example, the idea is that eating small amounts more regularly can improve energy and prevent over-eating at mealtimes. Even advise on the best way to snack.
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That may all seem logical, and, yes, there are times when we might all need extra energy. But the latest research reveals a hidden problem with this apparently healthy habit and, according to Tim Spector at King鈥檚 College London, our tendency for snacking is downright dangerous. There are several reasons why.
The first is a growing understanding of the importance of giving your body regular breaks from digestion 鈥� in particular from dealing with sugars, including carbohydrates 鈥� so that it can burn through the stores available. As we report in our feature, failing to do so can leave you at risk of metabolic problems.
Secondly, Spector鈥檚 own work has revealed that even those who, by all measures, are healthy and eat well can be听susceptible to dangerously high blood听sugar spikes as a result of even the听healthiest of snacks. Eating the same food with a meal is a better approach.
Finally, constant grazing can cause an , causing inflammation that we know is implicated in all manner of health problems. The science is still young, but the evidence is compelling. So next time you are tempted by a mid-morning pick-me-up, channel your inner Roman. Your metabolism will thank you.
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