Shocking Accusations About How Often We Should Eat: Is It Fact or Fiction?

Eating is fundamental to health and life. It's the fuel that supplies the body with energy and necessary nutrients that maintain proper function.

How often we should eat--what we eat--is an important focus given the level of widespread obesity in this country. Traditionally, we are told that three meals a day are necessary for good health.

However, I have always wondered how someone else can tell me when I'm hungry. It just never made sense. Yet, we are trained to do it in school. And eating three times a day becomes a habit rather than physical necessity.


Does this mean we eat even when we're not hungry? Remember. Every individual is different and requires physical fuel at different times. This is attributed largely to each person's metabolism.

However, everything depends on how long the digestive system needs to properly assimilate the foods we eat.

It has been argued that long life is impossible if we are careless of when and what we eat. It is said that humans' eating habits mimic that of the swine--who has no schedule--eating whatever you put before him and just as regular.

In light of these positions, let's look at a few statements of routine regarding the food consumption process and reason whether they are fact or fiction:

• Humans should eat every 24 hours. Fact or fiction?

The argument for this revelation hangs on the delicate nature of the stomach, its size and what happens when your gut ruptures or wears out from overeating.

For instance, the stomach is the size of two side-by-side fists. It's the pink sack-like organ in the image.

The small intestine is about 10 feet long, coils like a hose, and fills most of the abdominal cavity.

After nutrients are extracted from the food, the left-over food waste passes through the small intestine for excretion.

Judging from the size of these internal organs, and the size of the abdominal area for most people today--it's fair to say something is terribly wrong.

The size of our abdominal area exceeds the two-fist range many times over, which begs the question should we eat three times a day, with random unhealthy snacks in between?

• It takes between 24 to 72 hours to digest a meal? Fact or fiction?

Let's reason on the assumption that this is true. If we eat a hardy breakfast at 8 AM, a large lunch at noon and a big supper in the evening--our digestive system is already way behind schedule and literally overworked.

There are only four hours between 8 in the morning and 12 noon, which is a long way from 24 hours. If I were a gambler, I would be willing to wager that we have many pounds of food waste clogging our intestines--stretching them to the point of eventual rupture.

The fact that we stack food into our bodies like bricks contributes to scores of physical ailments and diseases. And don't forget the many toxic food additives that invade our system with each meal.

• We should occasionally fast, when medically possible, to allow our system to rid the colon of some of its waste. Fact or fiction?

According to medical journals, colon cancer affects the large intestine, which suggests the disease is food related. Moreover, it's described as being mostly associated with obesity. Again, suggesting a correlation with food.

Refraining from putting any solid foods into our bodies for at least 24 hours is better for long-term health. There are different types of fasts. If you're considering one, do the research. If you're under a doctor for short or long-term ailments, a consultation is recommended before attempting a traditional fast, as medications can harm the stomach lining and should not be taken without food. 

In summary, I would ask you to reason with the points of the above discussion and then judge for yourselves whether it deserves consideration.

When posting on subjects of this nature, I like to point out that these topics are for conversation purposes to stimulate thought and further research to help combat the rash of physical dysfunction.

Rising deaths, disease and physical disability rates are cause for concern. Therefore, discussion and personal experiences of triumph and awareness are great motivators. Your input is valuable.

If you have further insight or a story of living with or overcoming a physical malady, I would love for you to share it in the comment section. You never know who you might help or inspire.

Source: Innerbody.com, TheHerbsPlace.com
Article was written by Peggy Hatchet James
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