26% of people destroy the advantages of good meals by snacking poorly

According to a research, a quarter of individuals are losing the advantages of a balanced diet by consuming unhealthy snacks, which raises their risk of heart disease and stroke.

854 people’s snacking behaviors were examined by researchers, who discovered that half of the participants did not match the nutritional value of their meals to that of their snacks and vice versa. This had a detrimental impact on participants’ health, including their blood sugar and fat levels.

While a quarter (26%) of the individuals claimed to have eaten healthy main meals, they also admitted to snacking on low-quality items such highly processed foods and sweets. The consumption of unhealthy foods is connected with metabolic diseases such obesity, stroke, and cardiovascular disease as well as increased body mass index (BMI), visceral fat mass, and postprandial blood sugar levels.

In contrast, a research in the European Journal of Nutrition found that eating nutritious snacks like fresh fruit and almonds might improve metabolic health and reduce appetite.

According to Dr. Sarah Berry of King’s College London in the UK, “Given that 95% of us snack and that nearly a quarter of our calories come from snacks, switching from unhealthy snacks like cookies, crisps, and cakes to healthy snacks like fruit and nuts is a really simple way to improve your health.”

Importantly, the research revealed that, in comparison to other snacking periods, eating after 9 p.m. was also linked to poorer blood indicators.This study adds to the body of research showing that good health outcomes from eating are driven by food quality.

The greatest method to enhance your health is to consume a balanced diet that includes fruit, vegetables, protein, and legumes, according to Dr. Kate Bermingham of King’s College London.