Why skipping breakfast can mess up with your brain and body (image credit: istock)
In today’s fast-paced world, having breakfast has become a common habit-especially students, working professionals and intermittent fast. But many people do not realize that your morning meal can affect your brain and body negatively. Many studies and nutritionists now suggest that continuous breakfast can disrupt metabolism, damage cognitive function, and even increase the risk of long -term health issues.
What happens when you leave breakfast?
Breakfast is often called “the most important food of the day”, as after fasting overnight, your body requires nutrients to recur essential functions and resume. When you leave breakfast, your body keeps working in a sharp state, which can be harmful.
According to a review of 2021 published in nutrients, skipping breakfast is associated with increased insulin resistance, volatility in blood sugar, and even high cholesterol levels. It can also increase the risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease in a long time.
Effect on brain function and mood
Skipping reduces brain performance one of the most immediate effects of breakfast. Your brain runs on glucose, and after hours of sleep, it requires replenishment. Without breakfast, cognitive functions such as concentration, memory and decision making can suffer.
A study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that regular breakfast children and teenagers were better memory, meditation spans and academic performance compared to those who left it. Adults are not immune for these effects. Those who remember breakfast often feel dull, irritable or worried till mid-womb.
A nutritional psychiatrist of Harvard Medical School, Dr. Uma Naidu explains that skipping breakfast may reduce serotonin levels in the brain, which affects mood regulation and increases stress. “Food is information for the brain,” she says. “Leaving food, especially breakfast, can result in mood swings and fatigue due to blood sugar.”
Unlike the belief that skip breakfast helps in weight loss, research suggests that it can do the opposite. When you delay your first food, your body moves into protection mode, slowing down your metabolism to preserve energy. Later in the day, it often leads to eliminating or craving high-calorie, high-sugar snacks.
A 2020 study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism has shown that the participants who had eaten a large breakfast were burnt twice a day than those who had a big dinner instead. The one who has breakfast also has better blood sugar control and feels more complete.
In addition, skipping breakfast disrupts your body’s internal clock or circadian rhythm. Your metabolism is naturally more active in the morning, and disappearing this window can throw your body balance and energy regulation.
Potential long -term health risk
Sometimes leaving breakfast can cause harm, but doing it regularly can cause negative effects. According to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data, adults leaving breakfast have a significant risk of heart disease and obesity.
In addition, the missing breakfast can increase the level of cortisol – body stress hormone – increases blood pressure and produces inflammatory reactions in the body. Over time, it can contribute to chronic diseases.
What should be involved in a healthy breakfast
It is important to eat a balanced diet that includes protein, fiber and healthy fats. Avoid sugar grains, pastries, or processed foods that can cause energy accidents. Skipping breakfast can save time in the morning, but long -term costs for your brain and body may be higher. The beginning of your day with a healthy, balanced diet not only gives fuel to your body, but also sets tone for better focus, energy and welfare throughout the day.
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