The 5 most common eating mistakes

We know: to be in good shape, a good diet is essential. But certain habits affect our health without realizing it. Here are 5 common eating mistakes to avoid.

“Don’t eat too fat, too sweet, too salty”, this is the public health message that goes on repeat on our screens and on the radio. Only, in a short government announcement, not enough time to explain the consequences on your body of some very popular and yet harmful eating habits. Here are some explanations to help you avoid repeating these 5 errors.

Breakfast or the sweet tradition trap

In France, breakfast is necessarily sweet. Toast soaked in coffee, this is the most common habit among 57% of French people, according to an Ifop survey. Eating too much sugar in the morning is however harmful for your health on several levels. First, your body works to eliminate fat in the morning and sugar in the afternoon. Carbohydrates are therefore more easily stored if you consume them in high doses. Also, beyond cavities and the possibility of developing forms of diabetes, you will tend to feel less full with a sweet meal. This is what a study of Harvard published in 2018. The solution would therefore be to reduce the sugar level in the morning and why not, turn to the salty breakfast we were talking about here.

For more inspiration, we recommend the Strawberry & Basil blog book, which offers a multitude of gourmet and healthy recipes.

>>> Breakfast Gourmand, by Sandrine Saadi, on Amazon.

Snacking, the mistake we all make

Often, the urge to snack occurs when you skip breakfast or precisely, when it is too sweet. But filling these little cravings is obviously not recommended. According to one study from the Journal of Nutrition, from the press of the University of Oxford, published in 2017, the taking of meals at fixed times plays on the body mass index. Thus, it is necessary to take care to eat morning, noon and evening but while reducing the proportion of the meal during the day. The study showed that eating a large breakfast, a medium-sized lunch, and a small meal at dinner helped maintain a low BMI over the long term.

The trick? Opt for healthy snacks to make at home. A handful of almonds and a square of chocolate, a slice of peanut butter, a piece of fresh fruit and a piece of buttered bread … And for more inspiration, we recommend that you take a look at the book Fabulous energy balls, which allows you to make “energy balls” easily.

>> Fabulous energy balls, Christine Bailey on Amazon.

Gobble up your meal at full speed, a nasty flaw

It’s scientifically proven: the faster you eat, the weaker the feeling of fullness. As a result, you tend to (re) serve yourself more than you need to. The key to this bad habit: chewing, which has a major role in digestion. First, it helps your stomach absorb nutrients better and makes you feel fuller. Enough to reduce the risk of obesity, according to a study published in 2013 in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Taking the time to chew will therefore significantly reduce the urge to snack.

Remove all fat, a bad idea

Stop, don’t throw away butter, oil and other fats! On the contrary, keep them preciously in your cupboards and fridge. Eating too rich can actually be bad for you, but not too much. As is often the case with nutrition, it’s all about balance. Fat is essential in a good diet. This is particularly the case with omega 3 and 6, which help to keep your weight in shape. A study published in 2013 in The New England Journal of Medicine shows that consuming extra virgin olive or walnut oil, in addition to an unrestricted Mediterranean diet, would reduce heart attacks by 30%.

Drink something other than water with meals

Your body needs about 1.5 L of water per day to be hydrated daily. If you are used to drinking soda, even without sugar, or so-called “detoxifying” drinks, know that nothing will replace the benefits that water brings to your body. This is the only way to keep yourself hydrated properly and not to take in high amounts of sugar and a large number of calories, as will be the case with other drinks, including fruit juices. In addition, water helps regulate body temperature, eliminate waste through urine, maintain blood volume in the body and many other benefits, according to one. article from the Water Information Center.

See also: These foods in which sugar is hiding

Video by Clara Poudevigne

Lea Lecuyer

Lea Lecuyer

With Léa, curiosity is no longer a bad thing. Lifestyle journalist, she always has good advice to boost your well-being and keeps you informed of all the characteristics of your sign …