Dean Drobot/Shutterstock | Snacking can cause chronic inflammation

If you're struggling with weight gain and your goal is to drop a few pounds before your next vacation, some experts suggest choosing your snacks mindfully or abandon the habit altogether. Here are all the things you need to know about your snacking habit and why it may not be good for your health.

Why Snacking May be Bad for You

Nutritionists and health experts have conflicting opinions on whether you should or shouldn't snack between meals and even past research has shown conflicting results on the subject.

But if there's one thing everyone can agree on is that frequent snacking, especially out of boredom, can put you out of the calorie deficit if you're trying to lose weight.

Eating more food increases your calorie consumption, and hence makes you gain weight over time. To counter this, limit your snacks to 2 per day, and opt for low-calorie foods like fruit, hummus, and fresh salads that are high in fiber so they keep you satiated until your next meal.

PR Image Factory/Shutterstock | Are you eating out of hunger or boredom?

But even with healthy snacks, it can be easy to go overboard and exceed your calorie limit for the day. Moreover, frequent snacking can spike your insulin level too often which leads to chronic inflammation, which only gets worse if you already have pre-existing health conditions.

How to Stop Snacking

Your body needs a break between meals in order to recover from insulin spikes and avoid unnecessary inflammation, you must avoid snacking too much. Even if you do decide to snack, choose foods with a lower glycemic index so your blood sugar level remains relatively stable.

Foods high in protein and fiber are generally healthier options since they are the most satiating and don't cause inflammation in your body. Foods that are high in refined sugar and processed carbs digest fairly quickly, making you feel hungry sooner.

Bluedog studio/Shutterstock | A balanced meal should be rich in protein and fiber