Snacks increase weight and affect health

Cakes, cookies and energy bars for many people are the main objects of everyday life - snacks during the day, MedicalXpress reported.

But most people do not understand how easy it is to overdo calories during snacking. Women are advised to consume 2000 calories per day, and men - 2500.

The ideal balance is 400 calories for breakfast, 600 calories for lunch and 600 for dinner — the rest is drinks and healthy snacks.

But a study by the Behavioural Insights Team found that adults can consume an average of 3,000 calories a day without realizing it, in part because of snacking.

This is especially important given the increase in obesity in children. And the fact that 64% of young people have a snack outside the time of eating, and most of these snacks contain a lot of fat, sugar and salt.

Snacks are rarely good for your health - for example, chips and chocolate. And they often lead to an excess of calorie intake, which can lead to weight gain.

Eating habits have changed dramatically over the years - now people are more likely to eat outside the house, consuming less homemade food. According to the National Food Survey, in the 1950s, most people did not eat outside the home - compare this to the results of 1983, when most people ate out three times a week.

Today, traditional family dishes are largely replaced by dishes in front of the TV. Home cooking has changed, ready-made meals have become popular. People are now also more likely to eat outside the house and have a snack between meals.

Given that the food industry works for profit and not for human health, it is not surprising that unhealthy food culture and snacks are now perceived as something normal.

But small snacks can go a long way in total calories. So next time, consider an alternative - a banana, a small handful of nuts or low-fat yogurt and fruits. All this will fill you with nutrients, and will not add sugar and fat that you do not need in your diet.