Many people believe that skipping meals or staying hungry for long hours can help them lose weight. However, health experts, especially in naturopathy and Ayurveda, suggest the opposite. When you keep your stomach empty for too long, your body slows down its metabolism to conserve energy. This can lead to weight gain, especially around the belly. Prolonged hunger also triggers cravings, overeating, and blood sugar imbalances. Over time, it may increase stress hormones like cortisol, which encourage fat storage. Instead of skipping meals, eating balanced, timely meals is a healthier and more effective way to manage weight and boost digestion.
Side effects of staying on an empty stomach for too long on your body and mind
- Body enters survival mode: When you don’t eat for a long time, your body thinks it is starving. To protect you, it slows down your metabolism (how your body burns calories). This makes it harder to lose weight.
- Belly becomes a fat storage zone: Long gaps without food can make your body store more fat around your belly, especially the dangerous kind called visceral fat. This fat wraps around your organs and can lead to diseases like diabetes and heart problems.
- Blood sugar levels go up and down: If your stomach is empty for too long, your blood sugar levels drop. Later, when you eat, they spike up. This up-and-down sugar level confuses your body and increases fat storage
- Hunger takes over your mood and cravings: When you’re too hungry, you’re more likely to overeat, choose unhealthy snacks, or feel irritable and tired. This creates a cycle of poor eating and low energy
- Stress increases: Hunger causes your body to release cortisol, a stress hormone. High cortisol makes your body store belly fat.
- Digestion weakens: In Ayurveda, long hunger weakens your digestive fire (agni), leading to bloating, gas, and indigestion.
- Mood swings: An empty stomach can cause anxiety, irritability, and poor focus due to low glucose in the brain.
Risks of staying on an empty stomach
If you regularly skip meals and keep your stomach empty for long hours, it may lead to:
- Fat gain around the belly
- Acid reflux and ulcers
- Slow metabolism
- Mood problems (like anxiety or low energy)
- Higher risk of diabetes and heart disease
- Healthier habits to lose weight instead of skipping meals
Here are some easy tips to protect your health and reduce belly fat
1. Eat regular meals: Don’t skip breakfast or stay hungry for hours. Try to eat every 4-5 hours. This keeps your metabolism active.2. Start the day with warm water: Drinking warm water with lemon or herbal teas (like cumin-coriander-fennel tea) in the morning activates digestion.3. Choose balanced meals: Eat foods that give you energy and keep you full:-Whole grains (oats, brown rice)-Fresh fruits and vegetables-Nuts and seeds-Good fats like olive oil or ghee-Protein-rich foods like dal, paneer, or lentils4. Eat mindfully: Don’t eat when you’re rushed, stressed, or standing. Sit down, chew well, and stop eating when you’re 80% full.5. Walk after meals: A short walk after eating helps your body digest food better and prevents fat storage.Also read | What causes bloating: Discover the foods and tips that help reduce bloating
