Eating... Of course! But not so often!

In our rich country, we have a tendency not only to eat more than our body needs to function, but we also have developed the habit of snacking at all hours of the day or the night. While snacking can help maintain energy levels and prevent overeating during main meals if done in moderation, it also prevents the body from getting out of the postprandial state, the period after a meal when nutrients are digested and absorbed, which last at least four hours.

When people are constantly eating, either meals or snacks, the digestion process occurs several times daily and lasts for several hours, thus covering a major part of the day, potentially up to 18 hours. The postprandial state becomes a dominant state.

During digestion, especially after consuming a meal high in refined carbohydrates, unhealthy fats, or processed foods, the body may experience a temporary increase in inflammation. However, when the postprandial state becomes a dominant state, temporary inflammation becomes chronic and studies show that chronic low-grade inflammation is a major contributor to disorders such as metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, often induced by prolonged activation of the immune system by overnutrition.

 Do yourself a favor and limit your eating opportunities. Your body will thank you for it!

Source: Published online: 2021, Nov 14

High-Fat, Western-Style Diet, Systemic Inflammation, and Gut Microbiata: A Narrative Review