“Breakfast is the most important meal of the day” has been spoken by countless moms throughout the ages. It has been whispered in the ears of school children on early-to-rise mornings for centuries, yet the depth of understanding as to why breakfast is so important has only been brought to light in recent years. The side effects of not eating breakfast negatively impact weight, hormonal health, memory, cognition and mood. So it is very important that from now onwards you shall not be skipping breakfast.
According to a study people who skipped breakfast were 27% more likely to experience heart attack or to die as the result of coronary heart disease. The men who skipped breakfast were more likely to be single, smokers, employed full-time, to drink more alcohol, were younger, and were less likely to be physically active than people who ate breakfast.
Harmful Effects of Skipping Breakfast
Increases susceptibility to Diabetes
Harvard University School of Public Health (1) conducted a study that aimed to find a correlation between eating habits and health. According to the outcome, women who had the habit of skipping breakfast were at a higher risk of developing Type-2 diabetes, than women who had their daily breakfast.
Even worse, working women who skipped their morning meals had 54% more chances of developing Type 2 diabetes.
Unwanted weight gain
According to studies (2) conducted on the adverse impacts on health for skipping breakfast, missing the first meal of the day results in weight gain. Due to the increased hunger pangs, you will eat anything that you can get your hands on for that day. The result is increased weight, exceeding the needed calorie intake for a day. With an increase in hunger, there will also be an increase in the quantity of food that you intake, leading to abnormal weight gain.
Maximized menstrual irregularities
Menstrual days indeed are no less than a nightmare for women. The sore pain menstruation inflicts women with leaves them with no choice but stay sedentarily coiled on bed. Skipping meals especially breakfast has been verified as one of the factors causing heavy bleeding and pain.
Migraine
The medical term for low blood sugar levels is hypoglycemia (3). Breakfast being the first meal of the day results in producing controlled levels of blood sugar. However, when a person skips their breakfast, the blood sugar levels fall drastically, resulting in an excessive release of hormones that enter the bloodstream to compensate for the reduced glucose levels. The action shoots the blood pressure levels, which results in frequent headaches and migraines.
Low energy
This can be an obvious visible effects of skipping breakfast. Missing out on breakfast leaves you feeling lethargic and tired throughout the day. A healthy breakfast gives your natural energy reserves a much-needed boost, providing an adequate supply of energy to perform physical activities and keep your brain sharp.
Affects Your Heart
One of the most bad effect of frequently skipping breakfast has increased the susceptibility to hypertension. According to a study (4) nearly 27% of people who skip the breakfast are prone to heart attacks when compared to those who have their regular breakfast. This, in turn, leads to clogging of arteries, development of chronic cardiovascular health (5) issues as well as stroke and increase in the blood sugar levels etc.
Hair loss
A diet that lacks in protein can result in reduced development of keratin (6), which is the source for healthy hair and growth of hair. Breakfast is an important meal, as it provides the needed nutrients, proteins, and carbohydrates necessary for the body to produce energy. It further provides the needed resources that promote the growth of hair follicles.
