Philadelphia – For many people, there is a constant nagging inner monologue telling them to start a new diet or get back to the gym. However, some diets and fitness plans may do more harm than good. Whether it’s intermittent fasting, cutting carbs, or the keto diet, new research is warning those who restrict their diet. , is associated with an increased risk of death among American adults over the age of 40.
The findings refute an article on intermittent fasting research published in StudyFinds and show the broad benefits of the practice. For example, just recently there was one report that intermittent fasting leads to longer life. Another study shows that it may help prevent diabetes.
Skipping meals can be detrimental to your health, according to the international team behind this latest report. It is associated with an increased risk of death from vascular disease. Similarly, skipping lunch or dinner can generally increase the risk of death.
Meal timing also affects health. Researchers say that people who eat three meals a day should wait 4.5 hours between meals. Otherwise, you may be nearing death’s door.
“At a time when intermittent fasting is widely touted as a solution for weight loss, metabolic health, and disease prevention, our research is important for the majority of American adults who eat fewer than three meals each day. Our research found that people who ate only one meal a day were more likely to die than those who ate more.”
2 in 5 have dietary restrictions
Investigators analyzed responses and causes of death from more than 24,000 American adults age 40 and older who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) between 1999 and 2014.we
Researchers found that people eating less than three meals a day (about 40% of participants) were less educated, had lower incomes, were food insecure, were heavy drinkers, smoked, and had lower overall energy intake. We found that they share common characteristics such as less
“Our results are significant even after adjusting for diet and lifestyle factors (smoking, alcohol use, physical activity level, energy intake, diet quality) and food insecurity,” said Wei, a senior investigator in the study. Bao adds.
Dr. Bao explains that skipping meals means you get more energy at once, which can reduce your body’s ability to metabolize glucose. This can impair your metabolism.
So the next time you’re thinking of jumping on the latest diet trend, think twice. Restricting the body’s food (and fuel) intake can have serious long-term consequences, and it’s more important than fitting jeans one size down for her.
This research Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.