People have long been puzzled about the ideal number of meals to consume throughout the day. While many rely on three main meals, others follow nutrition experts' advice and increase the number of meals while reducing their quantity to feel fuller for a longer time and achieve the desired slimness. To settle the ongoing debate, nutrition expert Dr. Michael Mosley criticized the suggestion that consuming many small meals daily is a good idea for rapid weight loss, describing the approach aimed at increasing a person's metabolism as "absolute nonsense."
Dr. Mosley explained his rejection of the idea of eating many small meals, stating that in one study, they found that if you consumed two meals with the same caloric intake spread over four or five meals, you were more likely to lose weight with the two meals. He clarified that eating more meals could cause blood sugar levels to rise and fall frequently, which harms metabolism.
According to Mosley, as reported by the scientific site "gloucestershirelive," when consuming small and frequent meals, there is a continuous rise and drop in blood sugar levels, which is undesirable. He explains that the average person eats three meals a day: breakfast, lunch, and dinner. For years, we were told that having frequent and small meals would enhance your metabolism; this is simply a "myth."
The Fast 800 plan suggests that individuals following a time-restricted eating plan or fasting plan might want to start their eating period later in the day or finish it earlier. However, he adds, "There is no evidence to suggest that skipping an entire meal (eating two meals a day instead of three in the same time frame) has a positive or negative effect on your health, as long as the total caloric intake remains the key factor."
He continued, "However, many people find it easier to eat two meals instead of three while following a calorie-restricted diet, such as The Very Fast 800." Mosley indicates that simple exercises everyone can do burn fat and promote heart health, admitting he had been "completely wrong about exercises that burn more fat and combat heart disease."
In this context, Dr. Mosley explains how many meals should be consumed daily. He allows for larger and more calorie-dense meals, justifying that when eating two meals a day, each meal would be larger to meet the required daily caloric intake, which would also help reduce snacking habits, confirming that "some studies support this by noting that eating less frequently can reduce cravings throughout the day."
