Q: Why do I need to eat 5-6 smaller meals throughout the day?
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A: To control appetite, regulate blood sugar, stay energized and alert and build lean body mass.
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Balance
Your blood sugar level helps control your mood, energy level and concentration. By eating throughout the day you maintain a balanced state.
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Metabolism
Digestion temporarily increases calorie burn, so by eating more frequently you are revving up your metabolism more often. Your body is always using your current action as cues for what to prepare for in the future. If you eat on a regular basis, your body knows it can continue to burn calories constantly. However, if you go for several hours between eating, your metabolism will slow down to conserve calories.
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Rebuild Muscles
Your body is constantly making new cells. The more you exercise and break down your muscles, the more cells you remake. Protein is the building blocks of new cells. Unlike carbohydrates and fats, your body cannot store protein. It is important for the body to receive a constant supply of protein throughout the day to ensure the cells have the proper amino acids to regenerate.
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Fat Storage
When your body reaches a fasted state, you are likely to consume excess calories and thus overeat. When your body receives too many excess calories, it will convert them to stored fat.
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Long Term Side Effects
Overeating can desensitize insulin production. Each time we eat, we release insulin into the bloodstream so that our cells can utilize the energy from our food. Insulin helps to stabilize blood sugar levels. However, when several calories are consumed at one time more insulin is released. If this continues, insulin production will eventually become weakened and Type 2 Diabetes could result.
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