Intermittent Fasting
There are a variety of intermittent fasting styles. Some people fast for 24 hours, and go back to their regular eating routine afterward, while others simply restrict eating to a certain window of each day, usually 8 hours.
"Digestion is a lot of work. The idea with fasting is to take a break from that and give your body a breather," says Coleman. However she doesn't believe it provides much value.
Benefits: While most health professionals agree this is the least beneficial meal frequency option, "?Fasting could be potentially useful as a therapeutic strategy. Fasting has shown to improve conditions of metabolic disorders, lower the need for insulin medication, and help relieve inflammation," says Ori Hofmekler, author of The Warrior Diet.
Drawbacks: What will you eat after the fast? This is the most important question to ask when you rely on this meal-frequency style, says Coleman. Because many people don't consider that aspect, they go straight for a burger or bag of chips, which might not be the healthiest choice.
More: Is Fasting a Good Weightloss Strategy?
3 Square Meals a Day
This is the most popular meal frequency—for good reason. It's convenient and easy to stick with. However, that doesn't mean it's the best option. You decide:
Benefits: The greatest benefit of this eating style is that it's familiar. "It's what our culture is based on," says Coleman. It's also likely that each meal is a well-rounded one, with a full plate of protein, vegetables and carbs to keep you full until your next meal.
Drawbacks: The one and only drawback is actually an important one to consider: overeating. If you want to make it from lunch at noon to dinner at six without snacking, you may eat more than you need at lunch and then leave yourself starving right before dinner; this then leads to overeating at dinner.
How to Choose One For You
If you're not sure which one is right for you, you're in luck: "I look at all [the options] like training wheels almost, like you go and set these rules in place for a couple weeks and see how your body feels because everyone is different," says Coleman; "Find what works for you." Regardless of your preferred meal frequency every health professional can agree: eat when you're hungry, not when the clock tells you to.
More: Fall Into Healthy Eating Habits
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