Your body produces a hormone called cortisol in response to chronic stress. This hormone is associated with causing excess belly flab; the more cortisol you have, the more belly fat you typically gain.
This cortisol-blunting effect occurred in just 14 days. So if you want to take control of your body’s cortisol levels, simply start eating a small mini-meal every three hours to reduce. Cortisol up to 17 percent on your own. Those are just a few of the benefits to eating five mini-meals a day, spaced three hours apart. (Example: Eat a meal 7 am, 10am, 1pm, 4pm, and 7 pm.)
Now get this: The New England Journal of Medicine published a study showing that individuals who consumed mini-meals spaced three hours apart each day actually decreased their cortisol levels by 17 percent compared to those who ate the same amount of food in only three meals per day.
Now when I say, “mini-meal” I’m only talking about 300 or so calories per meal. (400 calories for active folks over 220 lbs). And those calories should be coming fromnatural sources (lean meats, eggs, dairy, fruits, nuts, vegetables and whole grains). Skip the processed junk. Now I have to admit, I’ve found that when my readers begin eating this way it feels very unnatural to them in the beginning. You see, as Americans, most of us have stretched our stomachs out to the point where we just don’t feel satisfied unless we’re gorging on a huge calorie-laden meal two or three times a day.
So when you begin eating a mini-meal every three hours you may not feel completely full after each meal. But that will quickly change. You see, after just a few days of eating five mini-meals, your stomach will naturally begin to shrink in size, and the small mini-meals will leave you feeling full, satisfied, light, and energetic.
Make no mistake, if you do nothing else but consistently eat balanced mini-meals, spaced three hours apart throughout the day, you are going to make a great change in your body.
The information provided on this site is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your physician or other health care professional or any information contained on or in any product label or packaging. You should not use the information on this site for diagnosis or treatment of any health problem or for prescription of any medication or other treatment. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any diet, exercise or supplementation program, before taking any medication, or if you have or suspect you might have a health problem. You should not stop taking any medication without first consulting your physician.
