The quality and timing of snacks are more important for health than quantity or frequency, a new study suggests.
The impact of snacking on our health is a subject of hot debate. Is it the number of snacks, the quality of what we're nibbling on, or the time of day that matters the most?
The study, presented at NUTRITION 2023 in Boston and led by Dr Kate Bermingham, a postdoctoral fellow at King's College London, involved over a thousand participants and suggests the answers are more nuanced than previously thought.
More than 70 per cent of people report snacking at least twice daily, which makes understanding the health implications crucial.
“Our study revealed that snack quality and timing seem to carry more weight than quantity or frequency when it comes to health,” said Dr Bermingham.
The research is part of the ZOE PREDICT project, a series of nutritional studies aiming to understand why people respond differently to the same foods.
The investigation specifically targeted snacking behaviours, a dietary aspect often overlooked despite accounting for 20-25 per cent of energy intake.
The researchers examined links between snacking habits – quality, quantity and timing – with cardiometabolic health, as indicated by blood fats and insulin levels.
Contrary to common belief, the study found no direct association between the frequency or the amount of food consumed during snacking and any of the health measures analysed.
However, the findings did highlight that the quality of snacks plays a significant role in influencing health outcomes.
Snacks rich in nutrients relative to their calorie content were associated with better blood fat and insulin responses.
The timing of snacking also emerged as a crucial factor.
Late-night snacking, which extends the eating window and cuts short the fasting period, was linked with less favourable blood glucose and lipid levels – the amount of fatty substances present in your blood.
“Our research emphasises the importance of both the timing and quality of snacks, showing that these are independent, modifiable dietary features that could be targeted to improve health,” Dr Bermingham saidd.
Participants who consumed high-quality snacks and avoided late-night snacking showed better triglyceride and insulin levels, implying potential benefits for cardiometabolic health.
Conversely, late-night snacking was associated with negative impacts blood sugar levels.
The findings indicate that while poor quality and late-night snacking can pose risks to cardiometabolic health, consuming high-quality snacks might offer health benefits.
Both the quality and timing of snacking can serve as key dietary factors for promoting better health outcomes.
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Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
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8. Pillar 2 implementation
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9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
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10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
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Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
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RESULTS
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55kg brown-black belt: Amal Amjahid (BEL) bt Amanda Monteiro (BRA) via choke
62kg brown-black belt: Bianca Basilio (BRA) bt Ffion Davies (GBR) via referee’s decision (0-0, 2-2 adv)
70kg brown-black belt: Ana Carolina Vieira (BRA) bt Jessica Swanson (USA), 9-0
90kg brown-black belt: Angelica Galvao (USA) bt Marta Szarecka (POL) 8-2
Men:
62kg black belt: Joao Miyao (BRA) bt Wan Ki-chae (KOR), 7-2
69kg black belt: Paulo Miyao (BRA) bt Gianni Grippo (USA), 2-2 (1-0 adv)
77kg black belt: Espen Mathiesen (NOR) bt Jake Mackenzie (CAN)
85kg black belt: Isaque Braz (BRA) bt Faisal Al Ketbi (UAE), 2-0
94kg black belt: Felipe Pena (BRA) bt Adam Wardzinski (POL), 4-0
110kg black belt final: Erberth Santos (BRA) bt Lucio Rodrigues (GBR) via rear naked choke
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Director: James Cameron
Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana
Rating: 4.5/5
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Cultural fiesta
What: The Al Burda Festival
When: November 14 (from 10am)
Where: Warehouse421, Abu Dhabi
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Price, base / as tested Dh57,000
Engine 1,170cc air/oil-cooled flat twin four-stroke engine
Transmission Six-speed gearbox
Power 110hp) @ 7,750rpm
Torque 116Nm @ 6,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined 5.3L / 100km
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