2023-08-30 13:07:00
It’s that snacking between meals has long been a habit not recommended. Disturbing our digestive system, creating peaks in blood sugar, which can lead to weight gain, the general consensus seemed rather unanimous: we avoid!
And yet, a handful of scientists have looked into the question and everything would not be so Manichaean as one might think… Indeed, with their PREDICT 1 study, they affirm that snacking would not be so bad for the health.
This study is part of the ZOE Predict projecta large-scale nutritional research study that aims to investigate why and how we all react differently to the same foods.
« Few publications have been published on snacking, despite the fact that it represents 20 to 25% of energy intake. Our project therefore followed a large number of people and captured detailed information regarding their snacking behaviors.. », notes researcher Kate Bermingham, a member of the team.
More than 1000 people followed
In order to reach this conclusion, the team of scientists behind the study followed the eating habits of around 1,000 carefully selected participants. “Using participant data, the researchers examined the relationship between the quantity, quality, and timing of snacks with blood lipid and insulin levels, both of which are indicators of cardiometabolic health,” states the press release.
Thus, from these observations, it appears that snacking is not that bad. Rather, it is a matter of timing that matters. With the results obtained, it would seem, for example, that snacking following 9 p.m. would be the most harmful to health. These late-night cravings often lead to higher blood sugar peaks and also generally include (too) high levels of sugars and fats.
Quality over quantity
According to Kate Bermingham, when it comes to snacking, it’s not the quantity that really counts, but rather the quality: “Our study showed that the quality of snacks is more important than the quantity or frequency of snacks, so choosing products of good quality rather than ultra-processed products is much better”.
In addition, snacking is a relatively instinctive behavior, as experts point out. It is therefore, according to scientists, easier to listen to snack from time to time than to curb these cravings. However, all the experts agree: we must remain reasonable and favor healthy and quality snacks!
And if this good news remains to be confirmed by means of a greater number of participants, it does not prevent it from advancing dietetics. Indeed, Kate Bermingham maintains that “We observed only weak relationships between snack quality and the rest of the diet, highlighting snacking as an independent modifiable dietary characteristic that might be targeted to improve health. »
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