One Major Side Effect of Skipping Dinner, says Dietitian — Eat This Not That

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By Ghuman

Introduction

Eating dinner is an important part of a healthy diet, but many people skip it for various reasons. Unfortunately, skipping dinner can have serious consequences for your health. According to dietitians, one major side effect of skipping dinner is an increased risk of weight gain. When you skip dinner, your body is deprived of the essential nutrients it needs to stay healthy and maintain a healthy weight. This can lead to overeating later in the day, which can cause weight gain. Additionally, skipping dinner can cause your blood sugar levels to drop, leading to fatigue and cravings for unhealthy foods. To avoid these negative side effects, it is important to make sure you are eating a balanced dinner every day.

One Major Side Effect of Skipping Dinner, Says Dietitian

Skipping dinner can have a major impact on your health, according to dietitians. Not only can it lead to weight gain, but it can also cause a variety of other health issues. Here are some of the potential side effects of skipping dinner, and what you can do to avoid them.

Weight Gain

One of the most common side effects of skipping dinner is weight gain. When you don’t eat dinner, your body is more likely to store the calories you consume during the day as fat. This can lead to an increase in your overall body weight. To avoid this, make sure to eat a healthy dinner every night.

Low Energy Levels

Skipping dinner can also lead to low energy levels. When you don’t eat dinner, your body doesn’t have the fuel it needs to function properly. This can lead to fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and a lack of motivation. To avoid this, make sure to eat a balanced dinner that includes lean proteins, complex carbohydrates, and healthy fats.

Nutrient Deficiencies

Skipping dinner can also lead to nutrient deficiencies. When you don’t eat dinner, you’re missing out on important vitamins and minerals that your body needs to stay healthy. To avoid this, make sure to include a variety of nutrient-rich foods in your dinner, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins.

Eat This, Not That

If you’re looking to avoid the side effects of skipping dinner, it’s important to make sure you’re eating the right foods. Instead of reaching for processed snacks or fast food, opt for nutrient-rich meals that include lean proteins, complex carbohydrates, and healthy fats. This will help ensure that you’re getting the nutrients your body needs to stay healthy.

Skipping dinner is an easy habit to slide into, and there are many ways to get into the routine of doing so. For example, you may have heard of the antiquated punishment of having no dinner and going straight to bed from when you were a child. Or, flash forward to now, maybe you just are too full from a big lunch, or perhaps just too busy to eat dinner.

Although it seems like a minor setback with no actual repercussions, it turns out that skipping dinner is more harmful to your body than you might have thought. According to medical board expert Lisa Moskovitz, RD, CEO of NY Nutrition Group and author of The Core 3 Healthy Eating Plan, skipping dinner can affect your sleep and overall health.

“Whether it’s intentional or not, regularly skipping dinner may backfire and lead to poor sleep quality which can cause a myriad of health issues over time,” says Moskovitz.

Moskovitz suggests that without taking the time to eat a balanced dinner, your body may miss out on essential nutrients and enter a state of calorie deprivation– the damaging lack of calories your body needs.

“A mild calorie deficit is one thing, but if it’s too extreme, hunger can wake you up throughout the night or make it harder to feel relaxed enough to enter deep sleep,” says Moskovitz. “Furthermore, adequate nutrition is necessary to produce our sleep-regulating hormones serotonin and melatonin.”

According to the Nutrients Journal, a lack of nutrients causes insufficient sleep as well as sleeping disorders. Specifically, a lack of vitamin D is associated with a higher risk of sleep disorders.

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Moskovitz also says that mood, energy, immunity, and metabolism will be impacted by lack of rest due to under-eating and/or eating inconsistently.

According to the Sleep Foundation, sleep is a necessity and an essential function that allows your body and mind to recharge, which leaves you refreshed and alert when you wake up. Proper sleep also helps the body remain healthy and stave off diseases. The brain cannot function properly without an adequate amount of sleep. This impairs your abilities to concentrate, think clearly, and remember things.

A study published in the Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment Journal also indicated that acute total sleep deprivation– no sleep or a reduction in the usual total sleep time– affects attention and working memory. Chronic partial sleep deprivation– chronic patterns of insufficient sleep– does the same. Total sleep deprivation also impairs many cognitive functions.

RELATED: Secret Side Effects of Skipping Breakfast, According to Research

Kayla Garritano

Kayla Garritano is a Staff Writer for Eat This, Not That! She graduated from Hofstra University, where she majored in Journalism and double minored in Marketing and Creative Writing. Read more

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