The Link Between Snacking and Stunted Growth - AI Podcast
May 17, 2025•8 min
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Episode description
Story at-a-glance
- Research shows constant snacking disrupts children's growth hormone rhythms, reducing bone development by up to 17% compared to structured mealtimes
- Regular meals trigger natural surges of growth hormone that strengthen bones, while grazing produces flat, ineffective hormone levels
- In studies with both rats and humans, those eating structured meals had three times more growth hormone bursts compared to those snacking continuously
- The body's hunger hormone (ghrelin) works properly with scheduled meals, helping trigger growth hormone release essential for skeletal development
- To support healthy growth in children, implement consistent mealtimes, avoid between-meal snacks and serve nutrient-dense whole foods instead of processed varieties
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