First we were told to eat three meals a day -- then the number was upped to six to avoid hunger and over-eating -- and now we are being advised to consume 9 times in a 24-hour period. Eating more frequently during the day means there are no sudden spikes of fatty acids, enabling the body to deal with the intake more effectively. This may help lower blood pressure and cholesterol, and even encourage weight loss. While they all had the same calorie intake and food, half the participants ate fewer than six times a day, while the remainder ate more than six times. Results show the first group had a significantly higher systolic blood pressure, the pressure that blood exerts on vessels while the heart is beating, compared with the more frequent eaters -- and were also significantly heavier. (Daily Mail)