According to a study, 95% of Americans eat snacks daily. ¹ The average person has roughly 27 snacks throughout the day. But here is the problem.

Every time you snack, the body does not know the difference between a snack and a meal. Therefore every time you snack your body releases insuline. The more insulin your body releases the more insulin resistance the body builds up. ²

 
Why does insulin resistance matter?

People with higher insulin resistance need more insulin to combat their glucose levels, this in return has negative side effects such as: 

1. Makes You More Prone To Gaining Weight

Whenever we eat, our bodies release the hormone insulin in response to the rise in blood sugar levels that comes from digesting food. ³ Insulin helps to shuttle sugar from the blood into our cells, where it can be used for energy. ⁴

However, the more frequently we eat, or even as we first smell or chew the food, the more often our bodies have to produce insulin.⁵

The problem with this is that over time, constant elevation of insulin levels may lead to something called insulin resistance. In other words, study further shows that insulin elevation may result in weight gain, which, worsens insulin resistance ⁵

Another study claims that when your cells become too resistant to insulin, your blood sugar level may rise, which may lead to weight gain, prediabetes, and type 2 diabetes. ⁶

2. Overloads The Metabolism

Digestion takes time. When you eat, your body starts to break down the food into smaller molecules that it can use for energy. This process usually takes six hours or more. If you eat snacks in between meals, you're asking your body to start the process all over again and it can be taxing on your system. This may also be making it difficult to lose weight.  ⁷

3. Decreases Circulation

Having high amounts of insulin in the blood will decrease your overall circulation of blood throughout the body. Decreased circulation can lead to high blood pressure, and more stress on the heart and other organs. ⁹

Summary

Snacking may be a quick and easy way to satisfy hunger in-between meals, but it may actually have negative consequences for our health. Snacking may promote weight gain and increase our risk for insulin resistance, and it may also trick the body into thinking it is a full meal. If you are looking to improve your overall health, cutting back on snacking between meals may be a good place to start.

Try to eat more meals throughout the day instead of snacking, and give your body time to digest before eating again. Your body will thank you!