Breakfast: The Meal that Matters Most

Breakfast Manifesto

By Gabrielle Linzer

It's that one extra responsibility you have in the morning after walking the dog, showering and changing into your clothes. For some, it's a necessary fuel to make it through the day. For others, it's a nuisance that they simply can't be bothered with. Love it or hate it, breakfast is a key part of morning culture. Here, we run down interesting facts about the meal formally known as the most important of the day.


It kicks your brain into gear

Whether you're bleary-eyed or full of energy in the morning, eating a nutritious breakfast jump starts "critical thinking mode." In a study conducted on elementary school children at Tufts University, it was found that "when children consume breakfast, performance is enhanced on measures of vigilance attention, arithmetic, problem solving tasks, and logical reasoning." Its not just school; these skills translate to the work environment, too. A healthy breakfast can also help tone your memory muscles. In the same study, researchers found enhanced spatial and short-term memory improvement.


It's an easy way to get your daily recommended whole grains

We're supposed to eat five to 10 servings of whole grains per day, according to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. If you're not a health food fanatic, this sounds like a daunting task. Luckily, "cereal is a major source of whole grain in American diets," according to research conducted by the Bell Institute. If you're not a fan of whole grain pasta and you'd prefer not to scarf down half a loaf of whole wheat bread, chow down a bowl of cereal for breakfast, snack, whenever.


It helps you lose weight

Skipping breakfast can be counterproductive when dropping pounds. You're not saving calories, you're merely delaying them. Breakfast eaters are leaner than those who skip the morning meal, according to Harvard Health Publications, with one study reporting that missing breakfast was associated with a fourfold increase in the risk of obesity. Consuming a healthy, filling breakfast can also help you reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and even intestinal polyps and colon cancer -- not to mention that a variety of fruits and nonfat milk will stave off hunger until your next meal and provide many essential vitamins and nutrients.


It fights depression

Although we like to think we have full control over our behavior, our moods are often dictated by how we feel physically. Studies comparing school children who did and did have breakfast found that kids who breakfast eaters were less depressed, anxious and hyperactive. Don't skip your therapy session in favor of a hearty breakfast, but it could serve as one tasty step towards well-being.

It's packed with essential nutrients

You may not feel like you're missing much when you skip your morning meal, but your body certainly will. Breakfast "may provide one-quarter of our daily nutrient needs including Vitamin C, calcium, iron and folate," according to the University of Wisconsin Extension. Nutrient-packed drinks like fruit juice and milk are primarily downed at breakfast time, along with whole grain toast and fruit, which may help explain why "breakfast eaters are more likely than non-breakfast eaters to meet the USDA Food Guide Pyramid recommendations for dairy food, fruits and grains." Besides missing out on the benefits of all these essential food groups early in the day, people who skip breakfast are often unable to compensate for the nutrients they missed at breakfast with other meals.


It can lower your LDL (bad cholesterol) levels
The heart conscious will be thrilled to learn that breakfast can lower the risk of heart disease and stroke by decreasing the level of LDL in the body, which can clog arteries and lead to a number of serious health concerns. A 2005 study conducted by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that of the women who were studied, those who ate breakfast had significantly lower levels of LDL in their bodies. They also displayed less sensitivity to insulin, another large contributor to heart disease. Keep in mind, though, eating a breakfast of croissants and donuts won't produce positive health results.


It keeps your sweet-tooth in check

Engaging in a candy binge or eating a seven course dinner completely defeats the intentions you had when you skipped breakfast to avoid calories. Unfortunately, researchers at the University of Minnesota found that kids who skip breakfast tend to have higher BMIs than those who ate a daily breakfast. The researchers believe this may be because without breakfast, children grow extremely hungry by lunch time and are more willing to overeat, or eat unhealthy, easily attainable foods. Children aren't the only ones affected by this phenomenon. Cut your daily trips to the vending machine and fatty-but-filling lunches by filling up on a healthful breakfast before you get to work.


The percentage of breakfast skippers increases with age

It could be because you're too busy to prepare a nutritious meal for yourself every morning, or maybe it's because mom's not around to scold you for not eating, but either way, the numbers show that as we age, we increasingly become breakfast skippers. The percentage of people skipping breakfast may also increase with age due to weight concerns, which shouldn't be factor in the decision to eat a healthy breakfast. As you grow older, show that you're wiser and stick to a regimen of eating breakfast every morning.


You'll exercise more

The energy you get from breakfast can propel you into an active day. According to the University of Southern California, the same researchers that concluded that breakfast-eating adolescents have a lower BMI than their counterparts, also found that "breakfast eaters consumed greater amounts of carbohydrates and fiber, got fewer calories from fat and exercised more." This coincides with the commonly held belief that eating a healthy breakfast can inspire nutritious eating habits for the rest of the day's meals and encourage a healthy, active lifestyle.