Dietitian cautions against Skipping Meals: Warns of Dangerous Health Risks

By: Solomon Nartey Tetteh

Registered Dietitian, Gracia Helarie Fraikue, has cautioned the public against the growing trend of skipping meals, warning that it can have serious health consequences, particularly for people on medication such as those managing diabetes.

Speaking on the Business Breakfast on Zed 101.9FM, Ms. Fraikue explained that failing to eat at the right time can lead to dangerous fluctuations in insulin levels.

“Let’s take somebody who is diabetic and is taking metformin. Metformin works well when you eat a balanced diet. Now imagine that you don’t eat and you become hypo, that means your sugar levels have dropped drastically. You can die out of it. People get hypo and they die out of it,” she said.

She stressed that eating regularly is essential for medications to work effectively, adding that timing meals properly is a vital part of maintaining good health.

“If you are taking medications, you need to eat because the medications become efficacious if there’s food in your system,” she noted.

Ms. Fraikue advised the public to eat meals in the right proportions and at consistent times during the day.

“You’re not eating late, you’re not eating too much, you’re not eating too little , just enough and at the right time  and you’ll be able to maintain your weight,” she said.

Touching on dieting and weight loss practices, she cautioned individuals who practice intermittent fasting to adhere strictly to their eating timelines.

“If you miss the timelines and you don’t eat properly, your weight loss or whatever you’re doing is all in shambles,” she said.

The Dietitian also highlighted the connection between food colours, eating habits, and mental health, emphasizing that the visual appeal of meals can influence appetite, mood, and energy levels.

Ms. Fraikue explained that the use of different food colours can play a psychological role in promoting healthy eating, particularly among individuals with mental health concerns and children.

“When you’re dealing with people with mental issues, we use colours of food like carrots, tomatoes, and avocados. We have the greens, the reds, the oranges, and all that. Even with babies, if you want them to start eating more fruits and vegetables, you have to make the food colourful and appealing to the eye,” she stated.

She further noted that the visual presentation of meals sends signals to the brain that can make eating more enjoyable and relaxing.

Ms. Fraikue also cautioned against certain eating habits that can make people feel sluggish or fatigued, particularly stress-induced consumption of junk food.

“When you’re stress eating and consuming a lot of junk food, you’re not being active, and that slows you down,” she explained.

She pointed out that sugary and caffeinated drinks can have varying effects on individuals.