It's no wonder that your mother always told you that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Scientists are lining up in praise of this crucial meal that often gets skipped in a mad dash to the office. Unfortunately, nearly one-half of all adults in the United States skip breakfast, the International Food Information Council Foundation claims. Take note of the health benefits of breakfast and start taking time to get your day off on the right foot.
Weight Control
More than 50 million adults in the United States are obese -- as defined by a body mass index greater than or equal to 30 -- the Get American Fit Foundation reports. Eating breakfast can make losing weight easier and more effective, reports D.G. Schlundt of Vanderbilt University. In research published in the March 1992 issue of the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition," Schlundt found that dieters who made sure to eat in the morning lost significantly more weight and snacked less throughout the day than breakfast skippers.
Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is a common medical condition that can lead to serious health problems, like blindness and cardiovascular disease. Starting your morning with a bowl of whole grain cereal may reduce your risk of suffering from this chronic disease, reports Jinesh Kochar of Brigham and Women's Hospital. In a paper published in the April 2007 issue of "Obesity," Kochar found that regularly dining on cereal in the morning was significantly associated with a decreased risk of developing type 2 diabetes. When choosing whole grain cereals, opt for those with minimal added sugar.
Nutrients
Breakfast staples, like oatmeal, whole grains, fruits and eggs, provide the body with important nutrients like minerals and vitamins. In fact, people who eat breakfast every morning tend to consume more vitamin A, fiber, calcium and zinc than breakfast skippers.
Learning
Children who eat breakfast tend to be more attentive and perform better on test scores compared to those that don't eat breakfast before school. Children who eat breakfast are also better behaved and less likely to get into trouble.
References
- "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition"; The Role of Breakfast in the Treatment of Obesity: A Randomized Clinical Trial
- Get America Fit Foundation: Obesity Statistics
- "Obesity": Breakfast Cereals and Risk of Type 2 Diabetes in the Physicians' Health Study
- International Food Information Council Foundation: Wake Up to the Benefits of Breakfast!
- USDA: Benefits of Breakfast
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