Breakfast kick-starts your metabolism, helping you burn calories throughout the day. It also gives you the energy you need to get things done and helps you focus at work or at school. Those are just a few reasons why it is the most important meal of the day.
Many studies have linked eating breakfast to good health, including better memory and concentration, lower levels of “bad” LDL cholesterol, and lower chances of getting diabetes, heart disease, and being overweight.
It is hard to know, though, if breakfast causes these healthy habits or if people who eat it have healthier lifestyles.
Better Bets for Fast-Food Breakfast
But this much is clear: Skipping the morning meal can throw off the of rhythm your body. When you wake up, the blood sugar your body needs to make your muscles and brain work their best is usually low. Breakfast helps replenish it.
If your body does not get that fuel from food, you may feel zapped of energy -- and you will be more likely to overeat later in the day.
Breakfast also gives you a chance to get in some vitamins and nutrients from healthy foods like dairy, grains, and fruits. If you do not eat it, you are not likely to get all of the nutrients your body needs.
Many people skip the morning meal because they are rushing to get out the door. That is a mistake. You need food in your system long before lunchtime. If you do not eat first thing, you may get so hungry later on that you snack on high-fat, high sugar foods.
Breakfast and Your Weight
Can a morning meal be good for your waistline? Some studies say yes.
Researchers have found that, on average, people who eat breakfast are thinner than those who do not. That could be because eating foods with protein and fiber in the morning keeps your appetite in check the rest of the day.
But it does not guarantee you will fit into those skinny jeans. A recent study compared weight loss among people who ate breakfast with those with did not. The meal didn’t make any difference.
If you are dieting, do not think cutting calories by skipping the meal will help. Studies show that most people who lose weight and keep the weight off eat breakfast every day.
On the other hand, you need to pay attention to what, when, and how much you eat. One study showed that people who had large breakfasts ate more during the day.
Why Kids Need Breakfast
Sometimes children do not feel like eating in the morning, but it is important that they do. Their growing bodies need the nutrients and fuel.
Kids who do not eat in the morning have a harder time focusing, and they become more tired in school. They may also be cranky or restless. And it is not just their moods that can suffer. Their school work can, too. One study showed that kids who ate breakfast had higher test scores than those who did not. Most children do not get all the vitamins and minerals they need from just lunch and dinner.
Kids who skip breakfast are more likely to eat junk food during the day and be overweight. One study showed that teenagers who ate breakfast every day had a lower body mass index (BMI) -- a measure of body fat based on height and weight -- than teens who never ate the meal or who sometimes did.
If your youngster does not want to eat in the morning at home, pack something he can have on the way to school or between classes. Opt for fruit, nuts, or half a peanut butter and banana sandwich.
Karen Arthur/Ghanahospitals.org
