Is it unhealthy to only eat one meal a day?

1. 61

   stuff4kidsposted 10 years ago

   Is it unhealthy to only eat one meal a day?
   
   I've heard of some very famous people who are devotees of only eating one meal a day. They say that it makes them fit, healthy and energetic. But I am not sure that can be true. Isn't that unhealthy?
   
   

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2. 68

   baybpnkposted 10 years ago

   Yes, it's unhealthy to eat one meal a day. You are actually supposed to eat a healthy breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacking in between (in a perfect world...) It would be hard to get the suggested daily calorie intake in one meal if that meal were healthy.

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      stuff4kidsposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks for your comment. Hmm, I see your point but what about these folks who say they feel good and energetic - and they certainly look as if they do? Is it more to do with *what* you eat, rather than *how much*?

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3. 83

   M. T. Dremerposted 10 years ago

   I agree that it's unhealthy. Hunger is a natural mechanism that tells us our body needs more fuel. If one eats the right kinds of foods (Fruits, vegetables and whole grains) then it's very difficult to 'over eat'.

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   1. 61

      stuff4kidsposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I see that it might be unhealthy. But might it not also be a healthy option if done right? I mean if you eat the right foods and you become accustomed so that you don't feel hungry outside your mealtime? Or maybe these folks graze a lot in between...

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   2. 83

      M. T. Dremerposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I suppose it might be possible. But I think the body needs more fuel than one meal can provide. I get very irritable when I haven't eaten, so I know I couldn't do it. :p

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4. 84

   mikejhcaposted 10 years ago

   It is not healthy to only eat one meal a day. When you get hungry you should eat. The only way for your body to adapt to eating one meal a day would be to slow down your metabolism and store more fat while you avoided exercise. You would gain fat and lose muscle.
   
   What you eat is important but so is how much you eat and how much you exercise. I eat a lot and I eat often. If I get hungry I snack. I am healthy and lean. A person I know that eats pretty much the same foods as me but eats less is very overweight and unhealthy. His diet is basically the same as mine but he eats half as much and weighs nearly twice as much.
   
   Some people lie and some people take a lot of pills to make up for their bad diet. Even if it does work for some people I don't think you should try it.

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   1. 61

      stuff4kidsposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Hi mikejhca!
      
      Thanks for that - it seems that the consensus of opinion is that to eat only one meal a day could never be a healthy option.
      
      I wonder, though, is it fair to say that people who claim to do so and seem to be in good shape are all liars?

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