What are postprandial?
Postprandial refers to a pre-meal consumed after a meal has been eaten.
Before any food can be eaten, the digestive system must be able to break down and absorb the nutrients of that food so it can be digested. While postprandial is prior to food, prandial means before a food is digested.
Most people have a few meals each day and two or three of these meals may be very small, but they may still constitute a postprandial meal. When we eat smaller meals, we get the benefit of getting all the nutrients that our bodies require in one go. This is the best way to ensure that our body is always in optimum health.
A large meal containing lots of fats and protein may cause the digestive system to work harder, making it more likely that we will feel full. If you eat this way every day then you will probably end up feeling hungry at least for a couple of hours afterwards. That makes you less likely to eat the right amount of food.
There are three main types of postprandial: large, medium and small. The first is the biggest meal that the body will need and then you finish it with a small meal. Then there is a medium sized meal, which may not be as big as a larger one and then a small snack which is the smallest meal you could eat.
It is always a good idea to have a light snack in between meals so you don't feel hungry between meals. However, if you are trying to lose weight then eating more than six small meals a day is not going to help you.
People who often eat out at restaurants or at fast food chain restaurants usually have small amounts of food in their stomachs
These people often have three meals a day and if they have a drink between them then they will have seven or eight meals in a day. The problem here is that they tend to eat too much in between meals which can lead to obesity.
If you eat small meals in between your main meal then you are going to be able to control the amount of food that you eat fewer calories as well. This is because the digestive system can be used more efficiently and you are less likely to have to feel hungry between meals.
If you want to lose weight then postprandial are a great way to lose weight. You can eat small meals, but still get the energy you need throughout the day and so you will eat less food, giving you an excuse not to eat more. If you want to gain weight then you should eat smaller meals but take more food so you are not hungry during the day. If you want to gain weight and look slimmer then eat more than one large meal a day so you are more likely to eat more than one medium-sized meal a day.
If you eat large meals then you tend to eat more in between meals and this is not going to give you enough energy so you end up not having enough energy for the day. The best way to find out what foods are healthy and how many meals you should have in a day is to talk to your doctor.
When you eat your postprandial meals, remember to include a drink before eating each meal. This will make you feel full and will prevent you from feeling hungry between meals. Also drink a glass of water after every meal to ensure that you do not get dehydrated which can make you feel sluggish.
Postprandial meal should contain protein and carbohydrates, as this is going to keep your energy level up which can be depleted in between meals. Foods such as meat, eggs, fish, nuts and pulses are ideal to eat with a postprandial meal.
You should include a couple of cups of vegetables when you are having your postprandial meal. This is because eating all sorts of high carbohydrates can leave you feeling tired and depleted and will prevent you from feeling hungry between meals.
