Myth or Fact: “Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a pauper,” is a famous quote from renowned American nutritionist Adelle Davis. The belief has been spreading for several decades and is followed religiously by millions of people around the world.
On the other hand, Ayurveda, an ancient Indian system of medicine, recommends a light breakfast, rich in fruits and vegetables. Nowadays, protein-rich breakfasts are also recommended and recommended by fitness enthusiasts.
Nowadays there is so much emphasis on breakfast that most people believe it is the most important meal of the day. It is considered a serious sin to skip breakfast and many serious health problems such as obesity, diabetes and hypertension are attributed to it.
Today we put the notion to the test.
Read on to find out if the belief that breakfast is the most important meal of the day is a myth or reality.
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What is breakfast?
Breakfast is made up of two words, “rest” and “fasting.” It basically means breaking the fast. “Fasting” in this case is your dream. Most people sleep six hours a day and eat dinner a couple of hours before bed. They are basically “fasting” for a third of the day, which depletes the body’s blood sugar level. Fasting has its own benefits. But the first meal of the day provides a much-needed boost to the body and gives the person energy to continue with their day.
How did the belief that breakfast is the most important meal originate?
The belief that breakfast is the most important meal of the day originated in the United States in the 19th and 20th centuries. With the advent of the industrial revolution, urbanization and liberalization, the sedentary lifestyle became much more common.
People spent their time sitting at work instead of working hard on the farms. Women also went to work, which caused the entire family to eat light, easy-to-prepare foods in the mornings.
All of these factors paved the way for the introduction of breakfast cereals, pancakes, croissants and bacon. Cereal companies like General Foods used their lobbyists to argue that breakfast was the most important meal and that the best way to start the day was with a bowl of cornflakes or fruit loops.
Eggs and bacon were later popularized through the same marketing tactics. Today there are numerous competing theories about which type of breakfast is best. But the virtually unchallenged view is that breakfast is the most important meal of the day.
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Is breakfast the most important meal of the day?
Finally, we address the topic at hand. No, breakfast is not the most important meal of the day. It’s only important that food manufacturers and fitness influencers sell you their breakfast products.
All meals are essential and should be composed of an adequate amount of fats, carbohydrates, proteins and fiber. The way a person should eat breakfast depends on his lifestyle and his digestive system. Some people can’t handle eating first thing in the morning, while others, like athletes and weightlifters, need constant energy and can’t go long without consuming something.
Skipping breakfast can often lead to weight loss, which can be good or bad, depending on one’s perspective. Eating breakfast has its advantages but not doing it is not as capital a sin as it seems. There is no conclusive evidence that breakfast is the most important meal of the day.
Benefits of a healthy breakfast
Breakfast may not be the most important meal of the day, but that doesn’t mean it’s unimportant.
Check out the reported benefits of breakfast below.
- Fuel: Breakfast provides the energy to perform daily activities after 8 to 10 hours of starvation.
- Improves cognitive performance: A healthy and nutritious breakfast is known to increase cognitive performance, improve attention and reduce brain fog.
- Increases metabolism: After several hours of not consuming any food, the body’s metabolism slows down and blood sugar levels become depleted. Breakfast accelerates metabolism and increases the digestion of fibers and carbohydrates.
- Control Weight: Eating breakfast reduces cravings. According to studies, people, especially children, tend to overeat later in the day after skipping breakfast.
There are studies that link regular breakfast with reduced risk of heart disease, diabetes, obesity and hypertension. However, they are all observational studies and cannot specifically demonstrate whether it is really breakfast that prevents diseases or other factors.
For example, people who eat healthy breakfasts regularly also tend to focus more on their overall health than the average person. And the quality of the breakfasts also influences. A breakfast of donuts and fried chicken does more harm than good.
Bottom line
Breakfast is essential for maintaining the body’s circadian rhythm and providing a much-needed dose of nutrients and energy after 8 to 10 hours of fasting. However, the belief that breakfast is the most important meal of the day is a myth. You can eat the most nutritious breakfast possible every day, but it won’t do anything for your health unless you also get enough sleep and exercise regularly.
Additionally, some people do not have a high nutrient requirement or are trying to lose weight. Nowadays, intermittent fasting has also gained popularity. Skipping breakfast is not recommended, but there is no harm in doing so if a person covers their daily calorie and nutrient intake with other meals.
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Categories: Optical Illusion
Source: sef.edu.vn