Skipping Meals May Take Years off Your Life, Study Finds—Here’s What to Know - Yahoo Life

But, it actually might be even more important than previously thought, according to a study published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, which examined the effects of skipping meals and meal frequency as related to mortality and heart health.

The study, which was published in August of this year, sought to find out if eating behaviors like meal frequency, meal skipping, and time between meals were associated with all-cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality.

Eating only one meal per day was associated with an increased risk of all-cause and CVD mortality while skipping breakfast was linked to an increased risk of CVD mortality, and skipping lunch or dinner was linked to an increased risk of all-cause mortality.

The study noted that according to a US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), 40% of Americans skipped meals and at least one in five ages 20 to 74 skipped breakfast or lunch—reiterating the importance of the research.

“If by eliminating meals they are missing out on important nutrients their body needs, then long term that can be detrimental to their health,” leading to a “higher risk for certain cancers and heart disease,” she says.

While the study certainly has its limitations, Gans says that “breakfast typically is a good vehicle for nutrients associated with a decrease in cardiovascular risk, such as fiber and vitamins C, E, and D.” For example: “Oatmeal made with milk, topped with strawberries and almonds, would be an ideal breakfast for heart protection.

The bottom line is that while these findings about the relationships between meal skipping and mortality are important, there are a lot more factors that go into premature death.

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