8 Health and diet benefits of snacking you may not know

Hunger pangs that strike between meals are your body's way of saying it needs an energy boost.  Snacking is a healthy response and a good way to help with weight loss because it keeps blood sugar levels steady to control hunger.

Carbohydrates, which help to maintain a normal blood sugar level, are used up in four to six hours. Food replenishes them, and snacks help. Snacks don't have to be fattening and can provide more benefits than you may think.

1. Snacking boosts energy: Well-timed snacks won't spoil the appetite for meals and will help to boost flagging energy, especially in children.
2. Snacking prevents overeating: A low-calorie snack between meals takes the edge off hunger and prevents overeating at the next meal.
3. Snacking curbs cravings: Some people intentionally blunt their appetites with a low-calorie snack before an event where calorie-laden foods will be served.
4. Snacking helps to manage weight : Skipping meals slows metabolism and your ability to burn calories. Eating three meals a day and several snacks provide the consistent fuel needed to maintain blood sugar levels throughout the day.
5. Snacking fuels adolescent growth: Fast-growing adolescents should snack to fuel their growth and to compensate for their poor eating habits.
6. Snacking provides energy for athletes: Athletes of all ages typically have an increased demand for energy, especially from carbohydrates, which the body converts to glucose, its major fuel.
7. Snacking is often better than large meals during pregnancy: Many people are more comfortable snacking than eating a large amount at one time, including pregnant women suffering bouts of nausea during the early months, and heartburn or a feeling of constant fullness toward the end of pregnancy.
8. Snacking helps improve diet quality: The more frequently you eat, the more opportunities to eat nutritious snacks as a way to get your daily requirement of vitamins and minerals.  Many experts believe that eating five or six small meals daily is best for overall health.

Snacking has long been a way for diabetics to maintain their blood sugar levels. It is also a good way to ensure that people with busy lifestyles and problem eaters such as children and adolescents, older adults and pregnant women get their recommended daily nutritional requirements.