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Things That Happen to Your Body When You Skip a Meal

This Is What Happens To Your Body When You Skip A Meal
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The Active Times

The Active Times
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So you overslept and didn't eat breakfast. Then you skipped lunch because you had to catch up with work. But then you were so tired, you went straight to bed and slept through breakfast again the next morning. The vicious cycle continues.

Click Here to see the Complete List of Things that Happen to Your Body When You Skip a Meal

Some of the consequences you will feel right away but others will take longer. The bottom line is that your body will punish you for depriving it of energy.

1
Blood sugar levels dive
Most healthy people can maintain a normal blood sugar between meals. The average person sleeps 7 hours a night, and during that time the body has to maintain blood sugar levels within the normal range. “When not sleeping, the drop in blood sugar has a greater impact because the body is active and requires more energy, Vitamin Shoppe Nutritionist Brian Tanzer, MS, CNS says. “This is not the time to go several hours without eating.” The body basically runs on sugar. This is its fuel. If it doesn’t have it, all organs will be affected and you will feel tired and groggy.Photo Credit: ShutterstockClick Here to See Things that Happen to Your Body When You Skip a Meal
2
Fat is stored
If you’re not supplying the body with enough calories every few hours when it’s hungry, it’s going to think that a crisis is coming and switch to “starvation mode.” It’s an automatic self-defense mechanism. The body is conserving energy for later, which means it’s not burning calories and you’re not losing weight.Photo Credit: Shutterstock
3
Brain is affected too
As blood sugar levels drop, so does your metabolism. “Everything begins to slow down and this includes the brain’s metabolic function,” Tanzer says. “Lack of energy in the form of glucose affects mood, energy level and alertness.” In addition, low intake of essential vitamins and minerals affects a variety of biochemical and physiological processes that lead to the typical symptoms of fatigue and irritability.Photo Credit: Shutterstock Click Here to See Things that Happen to Your Body When You Skip a Meal
4
Stress hormones are released
When you frequently skip meals during the day, your body responds by slowing down your metabolism and secreting stress hormones. “The result may be binge eating; in most cases consuming a lot more calories than your typical meal,” Tanzer says.Photo Credit: Shutterstock
5
You get hungrier
Hunger-related hormones are also released when you go several hours without eating, according to Tanzer. They, in combination with stress hormones, are setting you up for overeating. “This type of eating causes drastic fluctuations in blood sugar and insulin levels,” he adds. The result is a metabolic environment more conducive to fat storage than fat utilization. “After fasting for several hours, most people reach for convenient, satisfying, sugar and calorie rich foods because they provide a sense of well-being that comes from the surge in blood sugar levels.” Click Here to See Things that Happen to Your Body When You Skip a MealPhoto Credit: Shutterstock

And don't even think about missing meals because you're trying to lose weight. This is not effective in the long-term. No nutritionists will ever recommend it because of the following negative consequences.

Click Here to see the Original Story on The Active Times

- Hristina Byrnes, The Active Times

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