Nowadays our lives have become so fast-paced and hectic that we are hardly able to find any leisure time for ourselves. In our relentless pursuits for material interests very often we end up ignoring the one thing which is most important and the one which really matters-our health. In our hurry to get to work and pursue other activities we make the detrimental mistake of skipping meals. According to various surveys more than half of Britons skip their meals and 26 percent of Americans skip their meals due to lack of time. This can have far-reaching and disastrous consequences for our health as our meals are our source of nutrition which sustain us and enable our bodies and minds to function effectively. Without proper nutrition we cannot survive let alone function efficiently and effectively to achieve our goals.
Nutrition- Why is it so essential?
Nutrition is the supply of food to our bodies which provide us with essential nourishment in the form of nutrients like proteins, vitamins and minerals which are required by the body to stay fit and active. Some points which emphasize the importance of proper nutrition are given below:
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- Helps build strong bones and teeth and boosts energy levels and metabolism
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- Helps fight health conditions like high blood pressure and blood sugar.
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- Strengthens the immune system.
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- Helps to reduce the risk of various serious ailments like cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, stroke etc.
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- Helps to recover from injuries and illness more quickly.
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- Helps in maintaining an optimal body weight and reduces the risk of diseases like obesity.
- Helps the brain to function effectively.
Skipping Meals? Here’s why you have a real cause for concern:
Whatever may be your excuse or reason for doing so skipping meals can prove to be a costly mistake. Your work performance will be severely affected due to physical and mental fatigue and you will pile up on unhealthy calories which can lead to serious health disorders. Some negative effects of meal skipping are discussed below which will make you think twice before you skip a meal next time.
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- Unwanted Increase in Body Weight and Obesity: Though people skip meals to lose weight but the reverse is actually true. When we skip meals we experience something known as primal hunger due to which we tend to binge-eat on whatever we can find and as result consume a lot of unhealthy and unwanted calories. This leads to a increase in our waistline and body mass index and makes us more prone to obesity. Reports have revealed that 2.1 billion people worldwide are obese or overweight.
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- Our blood sugar and blood pressure levels take a serious hit: When we skip meals our blood glucose and blood sugar levels fall to dangerously low levels which is why we tend to binge eat after skipping meals. This happens because our bodies rapidly burn calories after we skip meals for producing energy to sustain itself. When we pile up on the extra calories after skipping meals our blood sugar levels rise suddenly making it much more difficult for the body to convert the food into sugar. As a result of this sudden increase in our blood sugar levels we experience feelings ranging from energetic to extreme fatigue and this also raises our blood pressure levels. High blood pressure harms the blood vessels of the kidneys hindering their ability to function properly. In the United States the number of cases of kidney failure due to high blood pressure is second only to diabetes.
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- Feelings of dizziness due to Hypoglycemia: Skipping meals causes our blood sugar levels to fall to dangerously low levels leading to a serious medical condition known as Hypoglycemia which decreases our cognitive abilities and causes feelings of dizziness and extreme tiredness. Cases of fainting are also not uncommon. In more serious cases it can result in coma, seizures and even deaths.
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- Skipping meals aggravates diabetic conditions: Our bodies produce insulin to maintain a proper balance of glucose levels in our blood stream. Diabetic patients need to be extra careful in maintaining a proper balance of their insulin and glucose levels by consuming 3 meals a day at fixed times. Skipping meals can have potentially fatal consequences for diabetes patients as their bodies fail to function properly due to the imbalance in glucose and insulin levels, thereby making them more prone to suffering from a diabetic stroke which can lead to death.
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- Digestive disorders and heartburn: When we skip meals our stomach continues to produce digestive juices and without any intake of food for a very long time it will cause an erosion of our stomach lining leading to stomach ulcers, gastritis, severe pain in the stomach, stomach acid and in more serious cases even cancer. When we load ourselves with unhealthy calories after skipping meals we tend to prefer foods which are high in fat content to control our hunger and too much food causes an expansion of the muscle rings of our stomachs thereby raising the stomach acids to our throats which leads to heartburn. Surveys have shown that 74 percent of Americans are living with digestive disorders.
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- Foul-smelling breath- Skipping meals results in a chemical reaction known as Ketoacidosis in which fatty acids are dissolved by the body and chemical reactions with amino acids take place. The mouth is deprived of saliva which is responsible for its cleansing and more bacteria accumulate inside our mouths as a result. An excess of bacteria in our mouths with very little saliva causes our breath to become stinky and foul-smelling.
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- Severe headaches feelings of nausea, extreme tiredness, depression and poor work performance: Skipping meals result in high blood pressure and hypoglycemia which lead to severe headaches as well as migraines. We also experience feelings of nausea, tend to sweat more and in more serious cases fainting can also occur. When we skip meals our brains do not receive enough glucose which is essential for it to keep functioning properly leading to feelings of tiredness, fatigue, rapid mood swings, laziness and irritability. This has an adverse effect on our mental alertness and ability to focus and concentrate thereby resulting in poor quality work performance. Inevitably this causes depression and other psychological disorders and problems and negatively impacts our social lives also. Surveys have revealed that after having consumed junk foods in excessive quantities 49 percent of American adults felt bad about themselves, 46 percent were not happy with their bodies and 36 percent reported to feelings of fatigue and laziness. Among those who skipped meals because of stress 24 percent reported feelings of tiredness and 22 percent admitted to have experienced feelings of aggression and irritability as well as rapid mood swings.
- Lowers energy levels, damages our metabolic processes and weakens our immune system: Skipping meals deprives our body of essential nutrients and the nourishment that it requires in order to keep functioning properly. As result we experience a drastic drop in our energy levels and feelings of weakness and extreme fatigue. Our immune system is also affected thereby making us more susceptible to serious illnesses. It also changes our metabolic processes and makes it more difficult for us to attain an optimal body weight by shedding those extra kilos.
CONCLUSION:
According to survey conducted in the United States the average American consumes about 3.12 meals in a single day and in most developed countries people eat three meals per day. Though some reports suggest that consuming 3 meals per day does not necessarily alter the body’s composition but the 3 major meals are a must for controlling unhealthy food cravings and maintaining an optimal body weight. Do not ever skip breakfast as it is the most important meal of the day as our bodies do not have the energy to carry out it’s daily activities at the start of the day and a healthy breakfast provides with the necessary fuel to get going. Although having 4-5 meals a day seems to be the best option do not ever compromise on having less than at least 3 major meals a day. According to a survey of 5000 18-24 year olds in the UK 42 percent admitted to skipping some major meal or the other during the day and the same is true for about 53 percent of Americans who number about 31 million. For those of us who have formed the unhealthy habit of skipping meals remember that spreading out your calorie intake into major meals is infinitely more good for your health than skipping meals and binge eating once a day. The disastrous health consequences of skipping meals will undermine the very reason for which you are working so hard and are in such a rush to pursue your interests. Your goals and dreams will never be achieved if you let your health take a back seat. On the other hand if you dedicate only a little time towards proper and timely nutrition your life can be turned around. So in order to lead a long, healthy and happy life never forget to eat right and eat on time.
