Skipping breakfast is a common practice, with up to 25% of adults regularly skipping the meal. While it is often believed that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, there is increasing evidence to suggest that skipping breakfast may actually have some health benefits.

These health benefits are numerous and should be taken seriously if you want them effective for you. This is not to say that you should starve yourself or deprive yourself of healthy morning food. It just means that skipping breakfast sometimes can be beneficial for your health.

What are the benefits of skipping breakfast?

1. Weight loss:

Skipping breakfast can help you reduce your calorie intake for the day, which can lead to weight loss. A study found that people who skipped breakfast lost more weight over a 16-week period than those who ate breakfast. So, if you are among those trying to loose weight or burn down calories, you should consider skipping breakfast sometimes.

2. Improved blood sugar control:

Skipping breakfast can help to lower blood sugar levels and improve insulin sensitivity. This may be beneficial for people with type 2 diabetes or prediabetes. It has been discovered that people with type 2 diabetes who skipped breakfast had lower blood sugar levels throughout the day than those who ate breakfast.

3. Increased growth hormone levels:

Growth hormone is a hormone that helps to build and repair muscle tissue. Skipping breakfast can lead to an increase in growth hormone levels, which may be beneficial for people who are trying to build muscle mass or lose weight.

You wonder how this is possible when you think you need food to build the body and body tissues, right? Growth hormones do not necessarily need food especially when they can get whatever nutrients they need from the body reservoir.

4. Improved cognitive function:

Skipping breakfast can improve cognitive function, such as memory and attention. Sometimes eating in the morning makes you very dull through the day especially when it is a heavy meal. So when you skip breakfast, your body becomes more aware of what is happening and coordinates better.

5. More time to sleep:

This is for the leisure and relaxation folks. You find that the time you would use in making breakfast can buy you sleep if you skip that breakfast. Thank me later. Skipping breakfast can give you more time to sleep in the morning. If you are short on time, it may be a good way to get a few extra minutes of sleep or whatever.

We have talked about what not eating breakfast sometimes can do to us positively. What about what it does to us when we indulge too much or excessively? While we should skip breakfast sometimes, it is highly advised that it should not come off as a habit because it has its side effects.

What are the side effects of not eating breakfast regularly?

Do you skip breakfast for any of the reasons stated above? We all have our reasons for forgoing breakfast in the morning. However, keep in mind the things you are about to read below just as a guide to not overdo it.

1. Deficiency of vital nutrients:

Skipping breakfast means missing out on essential nutrients like fibre and vitamins that are crucial for sustaining your energy throughout the day. Consistently skipping breakfast can lead to inadequate intake of these nutrients, potentially leading to long-term health issues.

2. Adverse effects on energy levels and mood:

If you’ve been making a habit of skipping breakfast daily and have noticed increased irritability and decreased energy levels, your breakfast-skipping habit could be to blame. In other words, the side effects of breakfast omission can manifest as reduced energy levels and mood swings. So, the next time you find yourself feeling fatigued and irritable without an obvious cause, consider whether you’ve had breakfast.

3. Impacts on cognitive functioning:

Regular breakfast consumption has a positive influence on cognitive functioning. While it is true that skipping breakfast could help you perform better cognitively because it makes you more aware, scientific research has shown that individuals who skip breakfast on a regular basis exhibit worse cognitive performance compared to those who just skip sometimes.

4. Slowing down of metabolism:

Can you function without food indefinitely? Certainly not. Food provides the energy necessary to sustain us throughout the day. Consequently, if you neglect to nourish your body with breakfast, the first meal of the day, your body’s functioning may be compromised.

5. Encourages unhealthy cravings:

Skipping breakfast means your body hasn’t received any energy or nutrients since your last meal, which could have been 12 to 14 hours ago. Worse still, this can lead to poor dietary choices later in the day. Who can resist the allure of doughnuts when hunger strikes? Even if you’re not particularly fond of breakfast, your organs require it to function effectively. Breakfast, whether it’s a quick bowl of oatmeal or a hard-boiled egg, provides essential nutrients early in the day and helps maintain steady blood sugar levels. So with this, do not skip breakfast on a regular basis.

6. Skipping breakfast can trigger migraines:

One of the potential consequences of forgoing breakfast regularly is an increased susceptibility to migraines, particularly if you are already prone to them, probably because you have gotten used to not eating in the morning. Skipping your morning meal regularly can lead to low blood sugar levels, which may elevate blood pressure and raise the likelihood of experiencing a migraine attack. This is why it is advised to skip breakfast sometimes, not regularly.

7. Weakened immune system:

When you skip breakfast on a daily basis, your immune system can be compromised. This is because breakfast omission can adversely affect your immune cells. The body relies on consistent nutrition to maintain a healthy supply of immune cells capable of combating illnesses and enhancing the function of T-cells.

Having gone through the benefits and side effects of skipping breakfast, you should consider what to eat on the days you decide to eat breakfast. This will help your balance the equation.

What should I eat for breakfast?

The list of healthy foods to be eaten as breakfast goes on and on as it is endless, but let us see a few of them below:

• Eggs
• Greek yoghurt
• Oat meal
• Fruits
• Cheese
• Tea
• Nuts
• Protein shakes
• Smoothies

Any of these foods eaten as breakfast is good for your health, but be mindful not to overeat or indulge all the time.

It is also needful to listen to your body and eat breakfast if you are hungry. But, if you are not hungry in the morning, there is no need to force yourself to eat.

To be sure that you are on the right track when skipping a breakfast, check out these tips below:

• Make sure you are getting enough sleep the night prior.
• Drink plenty of water throughout the day.
• Eat healthy snacks throughout the day, such as fruits, vegetables, and nuts.
• Avoid sugary drinks and processed foods.
• If you are taking any medications, please and please again, do not skip breakfast. If you must, talk to your physician first.

What are your final thoughts?

The bottom line is that eating a healthy breakfast is essential to living a healthy life. Skipping breakfast sometimes is very good to the body, but… Not when you do it regularly or on a daily basis. If you do it daily, the side effects will put you at the risk of many health concerns.

So, go for a breakfast that is full of nutrients and DON’T SKIP IT REGULARLY!

After the knowledge you just got, you definitely want to check out more of our articles on health. Check here.