We live in an increasingly health-conscious world, along with constant conflicting advice on the subject of nutrition. There are several factors that get added up to this and one of them is misinformation about the food. And the moment a new health trend comes in the market, everyone is ready to be part of that bandwagon, without realizing how it will affect one’s body and mind.
For some snacking is important and for some, it may not. One person’s snack could be a meal for someone else. The main idea of snacking is to control that huge appetite and to stop you from overeating. And here are some of the few common myths when it comes to snacking.
Snacking is not good for you
Snacking is considered to be a personal choice and works different from person to person. Most people avoid because according to them snacking is a bad idea, especially to those who are part of weight management programs, but healthy snacking can be a leading factor in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. According to a recent study, those who chose to go for low-calorie diets and if it includes minerals, proteins and healthy fat, it would be the best way to prevent from overeating and maintain a proper diet. Also, small snacks in afternoon also increase both performance and concentration.
Snacks will help you with that extra craving between your meals giving you a reason to include some veggies in your diet.
Carbohydrates will make you fat
Definitely not, a healthy and balanced snack always includes carbohydrate. There are good carbs as well as bad carbs, it can be confusing sometimes. But hey! They are the main source of energy for your body. They are usually found in foods that are high in fibre such as fruits, vegetables and whole grain and they are the best source of carbs.
Fats are bad for you
Yes and no, the very fact about the fat is that they have always been part of our diet. Fat plays an important role in your overall diet and your body absorbs fat-soluble such as vitamins a, c, d and e.
One must know the difference between good fat and bad fat which will be beneficial for your overall well- being. If you simplify them, trans-fats and saturated fats are bad for you because they raise the risk of cardiovascular diseases and increase your cholesterol level. Whereas on the other hand, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated are entirely opposite and they are considered to be good fat for your body and for your health. And they are found in plant-based sources like nuts, olive oil etc.
Snacking before workout
The biggest myth that has been circulating among the gym goers is that working out on an empty stomach will burn more fat. The truth is that one should always eat something because your body needs the fuel to boost you throughout the workout.
As your body needs the energy to perform and if you haven’t eaten anything your workout won’t be intense as you had imagined. In short, you won’t have the strength, speed or stamina to burn those calories which result in sluggishness and will make you all dizzy. But that doesn’t mean you need to gorge yourself into a high-calorie diet, a healthy snack would do the trick and look for something with carbohydrates and proteins. Here is a quick healthy snack, to curb that extra hunger. A slice of organic toast with peanut butter and some banana slices will save you from excess eating.
Eating snacks with the right amount of ratio will keep you energized for the whole day and will help you from overeating. Do include some protein and fiber-rich snacks that will help you aid in digestion and curb your cravings from fats and sugar.