Stop Skipping Breakfast! – Jill Mac Nutrition

February 12, 2023

I’m sure you’ve heard the phrase, “breakfast is the most important meal of the day,” and it really is! With the rise in popularity of intermittent fasting, people being pressed for time in the morning or people who aren’t hungry in the morning, more and more people are opting to skip breakfast. This is not without consequences.

Not being hungry in the morning is actually a sign of hormone imbalance and that you are running on stress hormones constantly. You should be hungry when you wake up after fasting all night, which if you stop eating about 2-3 hours before going to sleep, could be 8-12 hours of fasting overnight. That’s why it’s called break-fast.

Eating breakfast is important if you want to feel your best and thrive!

Eating breakfast combats stress

When you don’t have enough fuel coming in, your body will run on stress hormones (cortisol and adrenaline) to get and keep you going. Eating breakfast will blunt this cortisol spike and signal to your body that you are safe. Eat breakfast within 30-60 minutes of waking up to keep cortisol and adrenaline levels in check.

Eating breakfast balances your blood sugar

Eating a balanced meal consisting of protein, carbs and fat to start your day helps to regulate your blood sugar and keep it stable throughout the day. If you skip breakfast, you’re starting out the day already on the blood sugar rollercoaster, which will lead to swings in blood sugar for the rest of the day.

Eating breakfast boosts your metabolism

Eating breakfast kickstarts your metabolism for the day. You need adequate fuel coming in for your metabolic rate to increase. Providing your body with fuel as soon as you wake up tells your body it is safe to burn more calories. On the other hand, skipping breakfast tells your body that food is scarce, so it will conserve energy and burn less calories. This makes the difference between feeling energized during the day vs feeling sluggish.

Eating breakfast fires up the brain

Eating breakfast replenishes your brain’s glucose stores. This helps you to feel more alert and focused. It also boosts your mood and improves memory.

Eating breakfast helps prevent overeating

When you start your day well fueled with stable blood sugar, you’re much less likely to feel ravenous or “hangry” so you won’t feel the urge to shove food in your mouth quickly and eat more than you need. If you skip breakfast, you’re more likely to binge eat at the end of the day. It’s better for your body to eat 3 meals spread out throughout the day.