Health experts widely agree that breakfast is the most vital meal of the day, but many Americans beg to differ. As per the authors of a letter to the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, approximately a quarter of Americans skip breakfast daily. It isn't uncommon to forgo breakfast occasionally due to being busy or simply forgetting to eat. However, intentionally skipping your breakfast isn't a great idea for numerous good reasons. Here are some of them.
Maintain a healthy weight
Many individuals seeking to lose weight often eliminate calories from their breakfast or avoid morning meals altogether. However, health experts agree that doing this can be detrimental to your weight loss efforts. This reality is because breakfast reduces your hunger, lowering your risk of overeating high-calorie meals and snacks later on in the day. In addition, starting your day with a nutritious breakfast can motivate you to make healthy choices throughout the day to keep your weight in check.
Boost your energy
Food is fuel, so it makes sense to begin your day by stuffing your body with the nutrients it requires for an energetic start. Indeed, a study published in the International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition reveals that eating a breakfast low in carbohydrates and rich in fiber will make you feel less tired throughout the day. Therefore, try your best to consume breakfast consisting of a healthy amount of cereals and whole-grain loaves of bread to fuel your body for the whole morning. Bacon is also excellent for breakfast since it is high in protein, the primary ingredient for keeping energy levels high and having strong skin, nails, and hair. You can learn how to cook bacon in the oven if you prefer it extra crispy, so keep it in mind.
Improve your mood
Skipping breakfast every morning can make you more restless and irritable and cause mood swings due to a drip in your blood sugar levels. Fatigue and headache can accompany irritability, making you more irritable. Therefore, prioritize eating breakfast every morning to avoid these disadvantages.
Improve your memory
A study on the link between breakfast and memory published in the Journal of Adolescent Health revealed that morning meals could make you mentally sharper. The study found that breakfast gives a high energy intake that greatly affects immediate short-term memory. Another study published in the Journal of Physiology and Behavior discovered that eating some types of breakfast like oatmeal boosted the short-term and spatial memories of elementary school children. Therefore, prioritizing eating a healthy breakfast that includes fruits and vegetables to give yourself a brain boost.
Reduce your risk of chronic disease
There is no denying that a healthy weight alone lowers your risk of chronic disease, but research suggests that breakfast provides extra protection. According to a study published in Obesity Society, breakfast eaters who ate less whole-grain cereal lowered their risk of type 2 diabetes. Breakfast has also been linked to fewer incidences of heart disease and hypertension.