Smaller, More Frequent Meals

As more blood is drawn to the digestive tract, less may be available for maintaining blood pressure.  To avoid problems with low blood pressure which occurs after meals, try eating smaller, more frequent meals and resting after eating to lessen episodes of dizziness.  Avoid taking hypotensive drugs before meals.

Eating regularly is important.  If too many hours have passed between meals, blood sugar will drop and your body will crave carbohydrates since these are the foods that will provide the quickest supply of energy.  Eat small meals or snacks containing some protein every few hours to keep blood-sugar levels steady.  Skipping meals causes blood sugar levels to drop, which leaves you yearning for processed carbohydrates and sweets for energy.

People who have dumping syndrome need to eat several small meals a day that are low in carbohydrates and should drink liquids between meals, not with them.

Large meals can cause cramping and diarrhea for those with IBS.  Symptoms may be eased if you eat smaller meals more often or just eat smaller portions.  This should help, especially if your meals are low in fat and high in carbohydrates such as pasta, rice, whole-grain breads and cereals, fruits, and vegetables.

Eating regular meals in the recommended hearty breakfast / medium lunch / modest dinner pattern can improve melatonin production.  It is important to eat a lighter meal at night because the digestive process slows as melatonin levels begin to rise.

Controlling cholesterol levels may be a case of not only what is eaten but how often.  Men and women who eat six or more times a day have cholesterol levels that are about 5% lower than those of less frequent eaters.  The researchers found lower levels of cholesterol in the frequent eaters regardless of their body mass, physical activity or whether they smoked.  From other studies we know that a 5% lowering of cholesterol may be associated with a 10% reduction in coronary heart disease risk. [British Medical Journal, Dec 1, 2001]

Frequent small meals are more effective in stabilizing blood sugar levels than large, less frequent ones.  Remember to consume something before symptoms appear.  Protein snacks that keep well should be stored in locations such that you always have quick access to food.  You may find it helpful to store protein bars or nuts in your car, at work, in your pockets or (for women) in your purse.

Small, frequent meals are suggested to optimize digestion.

Try to eat small, frequent meals instead of three big meals each day.  Small amounts of food each time will exert less workload on the stomach and therefore require less acid secretion for digestion.