Since 1995 - Non Profit Healthcare Advice

Wake Up to a Healthy Breakfast–It’s Good for You!

Latina lady eating cereal  and orange slicesIf you do not think eating a healthy breakfast is important for you, you are not alone. According to a recent study, about 31 million Americans report not having breakfast because they:  

  • Are not hungry
  • Do not feel like eating
  • Are too busy
  • Do not have time.

Does this sound like you? Actually, quite a bit of research backs up the notion that eating a health breakfast is a wise idea. You may not realize just how important eating a healthy breakfast is! 

 

Why Should I Eat a Healthy Breakfast?

According to experts, research has shown a lot of reasons to have a healthy breakfast, including:

  • Weight control
  • Better overall nutrition
  • Improved health.

Weight control. Many studies show that people who eat a healthier breakfast tend to have a healthier weight than people who do not. This is true for children and teens, but there is enough evidence for adults, as well. It is not clear why, but experts think that if you eat a solid breakfast, especially one that contains lean protein (eggs), you will feel fuller and tend to eat less throughout the rest of the day. Others say it has to do with kick-starting the metabolism first thing in the morning.

Better overall nutrition. Studies show that people who eat breakfast tend to have an overall healthier diet than those who do not. This could be because there are so many healthy foods readily available for breakfast:

  • Fruit
  • Eggs
  • Low-sugar, high-fiber cereals
  • Whole-grain breads
  • Low-fat yogurt. 

Clearly, there are many less-healthy choices as well, but choosing healthy foods in the morning does not take a lot of effort. 

Improved health. A number of studies show a link between eating a healthy breakfast and better health outcomes. For example, in 2007 the ongoing Physicians Health Study found a lower risk of heart failure among people regularly eating whole-grain, high-fiber cereal.

 

Why Do Children Need a Healthy Breakfast?

Children especially need a good breakfast. Kids who eat breakfast are more able to focus and concentrate at school and tend to do better:

  • in math
  • in reading
  • on standardized tests. 

The evidence is strong, and that is why experts want everyone to “wake up” and enjoy a healthy breakfast.

 

References:

“Morning MealScape 2011,” a survey conducted by NPD Group https://www.npd.com/wps/portal/npd/us/news/pressrelease/pr_111011b

 

Hope Through Research – You Can Be Part of the Answer!

Many research studies are underway to help us learn about healthy eating. Would you like to find out more about being part of this exciting research? Please visit the following links:

 

This article originally appeared in Chow Line, a service of Ohio State University Extension and the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center and was adapted for use on NetWellness with permission.

 

For more information:

Go to the Obesity and Weight Management health topic.