3 Reasons You Shouldn’t Skip Breakfast
You’ve heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, right? And yet so many of us skip breakfast because we’re not hungry, or don’t have time to make it before running out the door. Well, here are three reasons why you shouldn’t skip breakfast…. according to science
- You deprive your body of nutrients
You ask, what nutrients? Well, every 5 years, The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) come out with a nutrition guide called the Dietary Guideline for Americans.This guide outlines dietary recommendations to promote nutritional health and help people initiate changes in their diets to prevent chronic diseases like coronary artery disease and diabetes. The guide breaks down recommended intakes of protein, fats, and carbohydrates plus vitamins and minerals like Magnesium, Vitamin C, Thiamin, and Niacin. Why is this important? Because it helps you prevent the dietary deficiencies that can lead to disease. It helps you take control of your health by fueling your body properly. Therefore, when you skip breakfast, you lose out on an opportunity to give your body the nutrients it needs.
2. You prevent a rise in cortisol levels
Studies have shown that cortisol levels are highest in the morning. Do you know what can lower them? Eating Breakfast. This was correlated in a study where they compared people who specifically ate breakfast cereal and those who chose to skip breakfast. Results revealed that there was a decrease in cortisol levels in those who ate breakfast vs. those who did not. Now, this is not to say you should only eat cereal in the morning. However, it’s to prove that breaking your fast in the morning can help with cortisol balance.
3. Your brain and body function better
Studies show that you function better because of the glucose spike of eating breakfast after an all-night fast while sleeping. An article written in the International Journal of Food Science and Technology confirmed that better remembrance, performance, and overall productivity occurred when participants consumed a well-balanced diet
How To Make It SMART
SHORT- You don’t have to eat anything complicated. You just need to eat a well-balanced meal when you wake up aka no donuts
MEASURABLE- Consider eating breakfast every day for 3-60 days and assess how you feel. Do you function better during your workday?
ATTAINABLE- Is this something you want to implement consistently? Some people love intermittent fasting and have no desire to start eating breakfast. They report feeling energized and functioning better in the morning on an empty stomach
REASONABLE- Is it possible to implement? My recommendation for breakfast is to choose something like oatmeal, whole wheat cereal, yogurt, or even a smoothie. You don’t have to feel stuck with the classic eggs and bacon or feel like breakfast needs to be a big meal. You should make breakfast your own and you will come to enjoy it
TIMELY- Start eating breakfast daily for 30-60 days. Take note of how you feel. Assess whether it affects you positively, negatively, or not at all.
As always,
Love yourself in health, one day at a time
Check out this post about how to include flax seed into your diet. Flax seed is an excellent nutrient source to include in your breakfast. You can grab yogurt, and sprinkle some flax seed and fruit.
Check you this post about the benefits of beets. This would also be a great choice for breakfast. Blend a beet smoothie, which won’t make you feel full and will give your body some power packed nutrients
