Although most people have an urge for delightful snacks, recent research show that almost 70% of people indulge in no less than two snacks daily. A new study of more than 1,000 participants has investigated the potential ramifications of snacking on well-being and explored the significance of snack excellence. Surprisingly, the outcomes underscore the fact that snack quality outweighs sheer quantity in its influence on health.
Snacking quality important than quantity
King’s College London’s postdoctoral fellow Kate Bermingham said that their study showed that snacking quality was more important relative to frequency or quantity of snacking. Therefore picking high quality snacks instead of highly processed ones is very beneficial.
The researcher’s work is part of ZOE PREDICT project which gathers a series of comprehensive nutritional research studies meant to reveal the differences in response to same food.
Bermingham explains that there is little that has been published on the topic despite snacking accounting for 20% to 25% of energy consumption. The PREDICT project tracked a group of individuals and collected detailed data regarding snacking behaviors which allowed for the in-depth research on snacking’s impact on health.
Researchers conducted a study on the relationship between snacking habits and cardiometabolic health indicators. They examined snacking quality, quantity, and timing in relation to blood fats and insulin levels. The results showed that consuming more nutritious snacks was associated with better blood fat and insulin responses.
Late evening snacking associated with bad blood fats
Additionally, late evening snacking, which reduces fasting time, was linked to unfavourable blood lipid and glucose levels. However, there was no significant connection between snacking frequency, the amount of food consumed, and caloric intake with the health measures analysed.
Bermingham said that they observed a weak link between snack quality and the rest of the diet, showing that snacking can be an independent modifiable dietary aspect that could be used to improve one’s health.
According to this study, contrary to what some health experts claim, snacking is not inherently bad for health and weight loss. The key is to be mindful of the snacks’ content and make healthier choices.
