Eating smaller, more frequent meals is one of the most widely spread pieces of dietary advice. For over 40 years, countless studies have proven the benefits of this eating habit, but recent research on animals may overturn this view. Recent studies on animals show that two meals a day can contribute to the physical health of laboratory animals and extend their lifespan.
According to a report in the Spanish newspaper "El Digital," experiments on mice show that limiting food intake, reducing the number of meals, and dieting can prevent certain diseases and extend the lifespan of mice. With this diet, the experimental mice showed greater resistance to animal forms of Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and cardiovascular diseases such as myocardial infarction, and their ability to cope with stress was also enhanced.
A study by the Baltimore Geriatric Research Center and Neuroscience Laboratory in the United States has proven that reducing the food intake of experimental mice and intermittent fasting can stimulate an increase in the levels of BDNF (Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor) in the mouse brain. According to the research, BDNF can enhance the resistance of nerve cells to natural aging and improve the ability to recover from injuries.
The results of a recently published study on the eating habits of healthy adults, which focused on reducing the number of meals without reducing the intake of calories, vitamins, and minerals, showed that such eating habits did not cause significant changes in the frequency of heart attacks or most healthy blood parameters. However, if a person eats only one meal a day, their body fat content significantly decreases, their temper worsens, and their blood pressure and total cholesterol levels in the blood rise.
Scientists believe that further research is needed on how the number of daily meals affects physical health, so they recommend that people maintain their current eating habits of four or five meals a day.