Eating smaller, more frequent meals is one of the most widely circulated pieces of dietary advice. For over 40 years, countless studies have proven the benefits of this eating habit, but recent research on animals could potentially overturn this view. Recent animal studies show that two meals a day can contribute to the physical health of laboratory animals and extend their lifespan.
According to a report in Spain's "El Digital," experiments on mice have shown that limiting food intake, reducing the number of meals, and dieting can prevent certain diseases and extend the lifespan of mice.
By adopting the aforementioned eating methods, the experimental mice showed greater resistance to animal forms of Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and cardiovascular diseases such as heart attacks. 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 shown that reducing the food intake of experimental mice and intermittent fasting can stimulate an increase in the level of BDNF (Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor) in the mice's brains. According to the study, BDNF can enhance the resistance of nerve cells to natural aging and improve recovery from injuries.
Recently published research on the eating habits of healthy adults, which involved 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 mood 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 habit of eating four to five meals a day.