5 Surprising Benefits Of Healthy Snacking
Who doesn’t love snacks? While snacking can be a great way to give yourself a little energy boost, excessive snacking can quickly spiral out of control. But what if we told you that there are ways to incorporate healthy snacking into your life that could actually be beneficial for your health?
No, we’re not recommending that you scarf down a bag of potato chips. Smart snacking with the right kind of foods can actually improve your health in more ways than you may realize. Whether it’s some celery and hummus or a plant-based granola bar, there are tons of healthier snack options from which to choose that will keep your energy levels stable and prevent you from getting hangry. Read on to learn about five surprising benefits of healthy snacking.
Could Boost Concentration
Ever feel a dip in energy in the middle of your work day? The midday slump is common, but that doesn’t mean it’s good. A tired, sluggish feeling in the mid to late afternoon is probably your body telling you that it needs a pick-me-up. Instead of reaching for a candy bar, why not look for something that will make you feel good both during and after you eat it? Several healthier snack options could be ½ an avocado, some blueberries and peanut butter, or a nut & seed bar.
May Help with Weight Loss
Healthily snacking on nutritious foods throughout the day could help curb your hunger and make you less ravenous when it comes to meal time. Another benefit of healthy snacking is that it may boost your metabolism. Eating a little something regularly (aka snacking) keeps your body amped up and active, which may increase your resting metabolic rate. When you let yourself get too hungry, your resting metabolic rate may slow down, which could inhibit weight loss. Once you get into the habit of healthy snacking, you’ll likely also notice a decline in your cravings for sugary treats and greasy foods.
May Lower Risk of Diseases
Snacking the right way on the right foods may decrease your chances of developing certain diseases like diabetes and heart disease. Similarly, if you already have these conditions, healthy snacking could help you manage them better. Research has shown that those who eat multiple small, nutrient-dense snacks throughout the day tend to have lower cholesterol levels than those who don’t snack at all.
May Help Stabilize Blood Sugar Levels
Snacks can be incredibly helpful to those who struggle with regulating their blood sugar levels because they can prevent your blood sugar from dropping to dangerous levels in between meals. Snacks like baby carrots, roasted chickpeas, and keto-friendly bars> have a low glycemic index, which means they are more slowly digested than high glycemic foods, causing a more gradual rise in blood sugar and insulin levels.
Provide an Extra Source of Nutrients
Whether you’re on the go or working from home, it can be hard to get the recommended amount of all the key nutrients on a daily basis. Incorporating healthy snacking into your diet is a great way to sneak in nutrients outside of mealtimes. For example, some of our favorite sources of vitamin B are nuts, avocado slices, and bananas. If you’re looking to add more vitamin C to your diet, kale chips, bell peppers with hummus and oranges are the way to go!
