When There’s No Time for Breakfast
We have all heard the phrase ‘breakfast is the most important meal of the day’, and it is so unfortunately preached more than practiced among the average American household. Before you laugh that off, keep in mind that there are several scientific studies that link missing breakfast to a number of dangerous health conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, and obesity. There is a definite and dangerous trend towards overlooking the true power of breakfast, and we will soon be paying the price.
Scope of the Issue: The numbers are skyrocketing, and staggering. A near 45% of Americans regularly go without eating some form of breakfast, with high numbers in each age group but particularly when it comes to teenage boys. Far from just fulfilling a stereotype, this grouping of adolescents going without their important nutrition should be taken seriously, as well as the impacts that this decision has towards other aspects in their development and life success.
What’s at Risk: For those who skip breakfast, they are putting themselves at risk of getting type two diabetes and gaining weight. While the latter may sound counterintuitive, there has been a noticeable uptick in caloric intake and poor food choices throughout the day in those who forgo their breakfast or brunch. Making the same choices day after day also means that those individuals will be at risk for a rise of cortisol and the stress response system, which in term activates issues with blood pressure and the storage of fatty cells. This is a major risk to the body as a whole.
Not All Breakfasts Created Equal: While the above information about eating breakfast is certainly striking, eating breakfast does not mean the same thing for people who enjoy a bowl of fruit and granola and those who always down a Frappuccino and doughnut each morning. Here’s a quick look at some of the divisions:
- Breakfast foods high in glycemic carbohydrates, such as muffins, bagels, and donuts, will give a spike in glucose at the start of the day and a sharp crash later on.
- High protein-low carbohydrate foods will result in a stabilized blood sugar and let that ‘fullness’ feeling last for far longer. A nice magic number here for anyone who is trying to eat the best breakfast with a stable blood sugar is consuming 35 grams of protein each morning with your meal.
Finding A Loophole. If you are a busy professional on the go or a sleepy teenager, mornings are not always the happiest time of the day and certainly not when you want to be thinking critically about all of your food choices. So while you may not be in the mood to fry up some eggs and sausage, you can certainly grab a protein or meal replacement shake, which will give you your requisite 35 grams of protein and leave you ready to hit the ground running and start your day on the right note.
From all of us at Kress Specialty Apothecary, we hope that you are making the right choices in your morning routine, whether that means sitting down to a quiet breakfast or mixing up a Perfect Protein Powder shake on the go. For more information about our varied services and specialties, give us a call today at 856-323-8723 to learn more.