We have all been guilty of skipping breakfast from time to time. After all, it can be difficult to find time to eat when faced with getting kids off to school, getting ready for work, and fighting morning rush hour traffic. It turns out that making a simple, healthy breakfast a priority can significantly benefit your long-term health.
What Happens When You Skip Breakfast:
Researchers in the United Kingdom conducted a study to evaluate the effect that breakfast had on glucose balance. One group of participants consumed breakfast while the other fasted until lunch. Both groups were allowed to eat whatever they wanted later in the day. After monitoring each group’s blood sugar every five minutes, researchers discovered that participants who ate breakfast had better insulin sensitivity. This meant that their blood sugar remained more stable than the breakfast skippers.
People who skip breakfast have a harder time getting the daily requirement of vitamins and minerals. This can lead to a lack of energy and decreased concentration at work and in the classroom. Nutritional deficiencies also lower your immune system, making it harder for your body to fight off illnesses and infections.
How Breakfast Benefits Your Body:
• Breakfast may benefit your cardiovascular health. A recent study showed that men who skipped breakfast were at 27 percent greater risk of developing heart disease than regular breakfast eaters. This may be due to the fact that the breakfast skippers were more prone to overeating later in the day increasing the likelihood of obesity, high cholesterol, and hypertension.
• Breakfast can lower your risk of diabetes. Studies show that men who skip breakfast have a 21 percent high risk of developing diabetes. In women, the increased risk goes up to 28 percent.
• Breakfast may help you maintain a healthy weight. A number of different studies suggest that eating a healthy breakfast reduces a person’s risk of obesity. This is because a breakfast centered on lean protein and carbs can suppress hunger levels and boost metabolism throughout the day. This means that breakfast eaters are less prone to snacking throughout the day and tend to make better food choices for their meals.
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Tips On Incorporating Breakfast Into Your Routine:
• Stock up on portable breakfast foods such as yogurt, fruit, and organic cereal bars.
• Prep fruits and veggies ahead of time. This allows you to quickly throw them into a bowl of cereal, yogurt, smoothie, or omelet in the morning.
• Make a point of setting your alarm a few minutes earlier to give you time to eat breakfast.
• Keep a few non-perishable breakfast items in your desk at work such as packets of instant oatmeal or organic granola bars.
For more information on the benefits of eating a healthy breakfast, check out the links listed below. We would also love it if you would take a moment to leave a comment sharing a few of your favorite “on-the-go” breakfast foods.
