How many times have you tried to lose weight by starvation, diet pills, "fad" diets, or other means? These plans work for a while but fail later, right? Not only is what you eat important, but when you eat is just as important - if not more. You see, our bodies become dependent on sugar intake and, therefore, begin to crave it as we get hungry. This deprivation of food, especially the simple sugars from the food, forces one to stray away from their diet and usually results in overeating.

Boosting your metabolism with mini-meals is the safest way to lose, or at least maintain, one's weight. This is done by eating 6 to 8 small meals each day and is the best way to boost metabolism when not exercising. The advantages to eating smaller meals are that our metabolism is working almost around the clock in breaking down our food intake while we are only eating the calories that we need to simply get to the next meal. We have all heard that the formula for maintaining weight is calories in versus calories out. Instead of eating the traditional three meals a day - whether we are hungry or not - and storing the excess calories which transform into fat, the mini-meal approach to eating means that we are only eating the calories that we will burn between now and our next meal. In other words, we never overeat and, if we are consistent with our dietary plan, we are never hungry. The safety aspect of boosting your metabolism with mini-meals plays a role is in our glucose levels. Eating 6 to 8 small meals a day assists in maintaining a consistent level of glucose. Sugar has no nutritional value other than to provide energy, so we have to be careful with it.

As an example, consider someone with diabetes. They struggle every moment to maintain the correct level of glucose or insulin in order to have a better quality of life. If you know someone with diabetes and have been around them enough, you will have noticed that they eat several small snacks and meals throughout the day. Depending on what they are eating, they are either trying to balance or offset their body's natural release of insulin. This is a constant battle for those who have this disease.

Another group of people who can benefit by boosting their metabolism with mini-meals is those who have digestive disorders, such as Gastroparesis. Studies have shown that people with this digestive disorder perform much better when eating several smaller meals each day. However, on some days, it may only be 4 to 5 small meals. Gastroparesis is a paralysis of the stomach muscles and delays one's food from emptying from the stomach into the small intestine. A person suffering from this condition must rely on the smaller meals, as well as supplements such as Ensure, in order to obtain nutrition.

It really does not matter if we have a health issue, such as one of those mentioned above, or if we are just making a life-style change and want to lose or control our weight. The most common approach presented by doctors, nutritionists, and health professionals throughout the world is by boosting your metabolism with mini-meals.