Why are your energy levels low or your weight gain uncontrollable despite maintaining your recommended daily food intake and exercising? According to research, everyday eating habits can impact your health. Read on to discover surprising eating habits that are sabotaging your health.

Skipping Breakfast

Did you know that eating fewer times between meals can impact your health? Food is a necessity that helps power your system. Whether you’re skipping breakfast for fasting or balancing a hectic schedule, you should understand that it might have potential consequences.

However, consistently missing breakfast affects how you nourish your body and reduces your intake of nutrients that can enhance your physical and mental health. Here are common side-effects of not having breakfast every morning:

• You may have lower blood sugar levels that can lead to brain fog and fatigue if you don’t eat for a prolonged period.
• Low blood sugar levels can imbalance your hormones.
• You may be prone to mood swings.
• You might experience intense food cravings later in the day.
• It can increase your risk of cardiovascular disease.
• It may slow down your metabolism.

Having Large Food Portions

The influence of food portions can play a significant role in various health consequences. If you don’t keep track of how much food you consume, it can lead to uncontrollable overeating. Lack of mindfulness when you are consuming food can create chronic health concerns such as obesity.

Whether you dine out or at home, a larger plate means you are likely to overindulge. If you consistently opt for huge food portions, you increase the risk of overriding your internal fullness mechanisms regulated by your digestive system. Moreover, overeating can be an ongoing habit with detrimental health consequences such as diabetes and heart disease.

High-Calorie Beverages

Did you know that high-calorie beverages such as fizzy drinks, hot chocolate and concentrated fruit juices can increase your risk of diabetes and fatty liver disease? Research suggests that the excessive intake of sugary beverages impacts your physical, oral, and mental health, which can be directly linked to common health conditions. Taking the nutritional content of what you consume into consideration is recommended if you want to improve your overall health.

Using Too Many Condiments

Most people add condiments to food to enhance its flavour. However, some are high in fat, salt and sugar, which should be avoided if you want to live a healthier lifestyle. According to research, some artificial food flavourings have been linked to potential health risks.

Understanding the nutritional value of condiments in your meals is important. On the other hand, you should consider making healthy condiments at home to ensure they are lower in calories and not processed as much as store-bought options. Occasionally, you can still enjoy adding flavour to your food while monitoring the nutritional value of any sauces you add.

Not Drinking Enough Water

Your body’s cells, organs, and tissue depend on water to function correctly and maintain specific processes. Maintaining a sufficient intake of water is recommended to keep up with the everyday demands of your system. If drinking water is something that you don’t prioritise, you should know these few side effects:

• Reduced energy levels.
• Increased risk of stroke.
• Slower metabolism and sluggish bowel movements.
• Fatigue and headaches.
• Reduced skin elasticity and rapid ageing.

Not Drinking Enough Water

Your body’s cells, organs, and tissue depend on water to function correctly and maintain specific processes. Maintaining a sufficient intake of water is recommended to keep up with the everyday demands of your system. If drinking water is something that you don’t prioritise, you should know these few side effects:

• Reduced energy levels.
• Increased risk of stroke.
• Slower metabolism and sluggish bowel movements.
• Fatigue and headaches.
• Reduced skin elasticity and rapid ageing.

Relying on Crash Diets

Quick weight loss might be appealing when trying to maintain a busy lifestyle. Making long-term and sustainable changes through improved lifestyle habits can seem challenging when you don’t know where to start. As a result, you might think a restrictive diet is an excellent way to achieve your weight loss goals.

Research suggests that crash diets that require excluding specific or entire food groups can lead to these health consequences:

• A weakened immune system.
• Increasing heart concerns.
• Hair and skin damage.
• An imbalanced digestive system.
• Decreased energy levels.
• A slowed down metabolic rate.

A little indulgence in sugary drinks or skipping a meal here and there is less likely to cause detrimental health consequences. However, you should be mindful of your diet and how some eating habits are linked to severe health risks. Your Affinity Health plan ensures that you maintain optimum health through our convenient Telehealth Benefit, which provides you with doctor, nurse, or mental health consultations 24/7.