6 Reasons You Shouldn't Skip Meals

Avoiding food can have several negative effects on your body and its' overall health and wellbeing.

If you've ever feel like you're having a hard time paying attention, understanding information, organizing your thoughts, or remembering details, consider what you've had to eat; low blood sugar can cause symptoms like confusion and difficulty speaking. Clear up "brain fog" with a good snack.

It's makes perfect sense that skipping meals would cause fatigue — eating is your body's main source of energy. In one study, skipping breakfast and then eating irregularly thereafter was shown to have a positive correlation with fatigue. Avoid feeling tired by starting your day with one of these delicious oatmeal recipes.

Infrequent eating can causes unsafe drops in blood sugar. Your body can usually maintain a relatively stable level of after one skipped meal but frequent and recurring low blood sugar (which can occur if you skip meals more regularly) can cause hormonal changes. And, low blood sugar can make you feel both weak and dizzy. Avoid feeling like this by keeping a healthy snack on hand for times when you can't eat a meal.

A study published in Diabetes Technology & Therapeutics showed that constant changes in blood sugar (like low blood sugar from skipping meals) was associated with shifting mood. Avoid hunger-related mood swings by eating the right kinds of carbohydrates; they'll keep you full and your body fueled.

Another negative effect of skipping meals too often? It may contribute to muscle loss. Skipping one meal won't cause a significant decrease in muscle mass, but with increased fasting, your body can start to break down muscle — which contributes to weakness and fragility. Keep your body strong by cooking with lean proteins like chicken or fish. 

Though there are a number of factors that affect how much you will eat over the course of a day, skipping meals can lead to poor subsequent food choices and obesity. Keep yourself full so that you don't overeat with these healthy recipes.