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What happens if you go too long without eating?

Low blood sugar causes people to feel irritable, confused and fatigued. The body begins to increase production of cortisol, leaving us stressed and hangry. Skipping meals can also cause your metabolism to slow down, which can cause weight gain or make it harder to lose weight.

piedmont.org - What Happens to the Body When You Skip Meals? - Piedmont Healthcare

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What happens to the body when you skip meals?

Decking the halls can take a lot out of you, but don’t become so frazzled that you start skipping meals. “During the holidays, we are often so hurried we don’t have time to sit down for a meal,” says Haley Robinson, a Piedmont clinical dietitian. “Some people also tend to think that if they skip breakfast and lunch, they will be able to indulge more at holiday dinners without exceeding their calorie limit for the day.” But forgoing food isn’t healthy, and it can actually lead to weight gain.

What happens when you skip a meal?

“First, your blood sugar decreases, which causes interruption in your ability to think straight,” says Robinson. “The brain uses glucose to run efficiently and if there is not enough glucose for the brain to use, your body does not function at 100 percent.” Low blood sugar causes people to feel irritable, confused and fatigued. The body begins to increase production of cortisol, leaving us stressed and hangry. Skipping meals can also cause your metabolism to slow down, which can cause weight gain or make it harder to lose weight. “When you skip a meal or go a long time without eating, your body goes into survival mode,” says Robinson. “This causes your cells and body to crave food which causes you to eat a lot. We usually tend to crave unhealthy foods and all attempts at eating healthy go out the door. When you are that hungry, anything goes.”

Tips to avoid skipping meals

Let’s face it—the holiday season can be hectic. If you are extremely busy, try following these tips:

Eat smaller, frequent meals throughout the day rather than skipping meals.

Always have a snack around like yogurt or a granola bar to hold you over until your next meal. Eat snacks high in protein and fiber. They will keep you full longer.

Plan your meals in advance or prepare them the night before.

Make a schedule for the week to avoid over booking yourself or falling behind. Set an alarm to ring at lunchtime if you are going to be running around all day. Make a lunch date. You cannot skip a meal if you have already made plans with friends or family. Need to make an appointment with a Piedmont physician? Save time, book online.

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The 5 Worst Breakfast Foods for You Doughnut and pastries. Doughnuts will cost you 250 to 550 calories, but the 15 to 30 grams of sugar in each is the real problem. ... Sausage biscuit. The sausage biscuit is basically a saturated fat and sodium bomb. ... Flavored non-dairy creamer. ... Bright, sugary cereals. ... Loaded bagel.

health.clevelandclinic.org - The 5 Worst Breakfast Foods for You - Cleveland Clinic Health Essentials

Don’t use these foods to fuel your body

The best breakfast foods give you fuel in the tank for energy that lasts. They boost your metabolism, fight disease and help keep your weight down. The worst breakfast foods do just the opposite. They lead to mid-morning crashes, wreak havoc on your metabolism, encourage disease and can cause weight gain. Advertising Policy Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy Registered dietitian Kate Patton, MEd, RD, CSSD, LD weighs in on the worst breakfast food options.

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