You’ve always heard breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but is that true?
The Benefits of Eating Breakfast
There are many benefits when it comes to eating breakfast. For example, eating breakfast can improve heart health, reduce brain fog and provide energy for the day to help the body perform. Choosing fiber-filled carbs when eating breakfast leads to a healthier heart. Your brain needs fuel to function throughout the start of your day. Breakfast can give you increased concentration and can help you process and retain information more easily. It ultimately leads to you being more focused, alert and happy.
Some healthy breakfast options can include Greek yogurt, oatmeal, omelets or a healthy breakfast shake. Choosing whole foods over sugary processed foods can help you feel fuller throughout your morning, carrying you through lunch. The biggest mistake most people make is not eating enough protein for breakfast. Many registered dieticians recommend 20-30 grams of protein for breakfast each day. You can accomplish this by eating eggs with a few turkey sausage links or a 6–8-ounce portion of Greek yogurt with flaxseed. Breakfast is rich in many key nutrients such as calcium, iron and B vitamins. A healthy breakfast has many benefits for your health, overall.
Is Skipping Breakfast Bad for your Health?
People who regularly eat breakfast are less likely to be overweight or obese. Breakfast can prevent fluctuations in your glucose levels. Skipping breakfast can also be associated with diabetes and high cholesterol. A study done in 2019, published in The International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health proved that people who even ate breakfast just once per week are less likely to have cardiovascular diseases. Non-breakfast eaters had an 87% more chance of dying from cardiovascular disease.
However, it has not been proven why not eating breakfast is associated with unhealthy cardiovascular health and bad habits. In the end, it’s important to focus on how you eat all day long and eating at regular intervals rather than focusing on one meal.
Need help getting your diabetes under control? Let the UofL Health – Diabetes and Nutrition Care help. Request an appointment online or call 502-588-4600.
