Many people are choosing to eat one meal a day – Illustration: DOAN NHAN
This method is currently being spread by word of mouth as a trend. Many people do it without thinking about it carefully.
May cause serious stomach damage
Exchange with Tuoi Tre Online Regarding this issue, Ms. Nguyen Thi Lam, former deputy director of the National Institute of Nutrition, said that eating one meal a day is also known as intermittent fasting.
According to Ms. Lam, this method can help reduce the total amount of calories taken into the body, helping to lose weight in a short time. However, it can also affect health.
“Eating only one meal a day can cause digestive problems, because fasting for too long makes it easy to feel hungry.
The next meal if the appetite is not controlled leads to overeating, creating abnormal gastric acid secretion, affecting gastrointestinal motility.
This condition, if prolonged, can cause serious damage to the stomach, reducing the ability to digest and absorb nutrients, even causing malnutrition and anemia.
In addition, eating only one meal a day will also reduce muscle mass and muscle function. Not only that, insufficient vitamin D and calcium supplementation over a long period of time can reduce bone strength,” said Ms. Lam.
According to Ms. Lam, fasting and eating only one meal a day also affects blood sugar levels. Fasting for many hours continuously can cause blood sugar levels to drop too low, which can lead to hypoglycemia. In addition, it will be difficult to concentrate on work, causing physical weakness…
Experts advise eating a variety of foods, not focusing on one group of nutrients – Illustration: DOAN NHAN
Especially for those who do heavy labor, mental work, etc., if they do not have adequate nutrition, it will easily lead to weakness, affecting work and quality of life.
“Therefore, it is best to eat 3 meals a day, you can divide the meals into smaller ones. Use a variety of food groups to provide the body with all the nutrients it needs.
For those who want to lose weight, it is necessary to combine diet and long-term exercise. In addition, limit processed foods and foods containing unsaturated fats. To lose weight safely, within 1 month, you should only lose 5 – 10% of your weight. You should not lose weight quickly or suddenly, which can also cause negative consequences for your health,” Ms. Lam advised.
Extreme diet
Dr. Tran Ba Thoai – member of the Executive Committee of the Vietnam Endocrinology – Diabetes Association, professional consultant of Hospital 199 (Ministry of Public Security) – said that many elderly people have diabetes, but are told to fast to reduce blood sugar levels, eating only one meal a day.
The consequences of being hospitalized in a state of hypoglycemia are very dangerous.
“Eating one meal a day is an extreme diet. Its harmful effects make many people mistakenly believe it is effective. This method can only be applied for a short period of time for people who want to lose weight,” said Dr. Thoai.
Dr. Tran Ba Thoai notes the balance of quantity and quality in the diet – Photo: DOAN NHAN
Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Anh Tuan – Head of the Department of Digestive Surgery – 108 Central Military Hospital – also said that intermittent fasting, if not done properly, will affect health. It can cause dizziness due to lack of energy. Lack of nutrients causes health problems such as anemia and malnutrition.
This diet may also increase the risk of immunodeficiency, increasing the risk of eating disorders.
“Intermittent fasting is often used as a method of weight loss and health improvement. However, it is not suitable for everyone. Therefore, you should consult your doctor or nutritionist before starting,” Dr. Tuan recommends.