You may have heard the phrase that “breakfast is the most important meal of the day.” Going about your day on an empty stomach can have an adverse effect on your concentration and energy levels. A new study now reveals that breakfast may even be more beneficial than previously thought.
According to recent research, eating breakfast daily can help reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes and obesity. Of course, this is not definitive proof that breakfast in itself is the sole contributor to a healthier lifestyle. Those who eat breakfast are also less likely to consume snacks and junk food between meals, which can attribute to weight gain and unhealthy spikes or drops in blood pressure.
The study findings were presented at a conference for the American Diabetes Association. The experiment consisted of 5,000 participants, none of whom had type 2 diabetes at the start of the study. The long-term research lasted 18 years, and seven years into it, participants completed surveys regarding their eating habits. What the questionnaire showed was that those who regularly ate breakfast were 30 percent less likely to become diabetic as well as 40 percent less likely to become obese.
Even those who skipped breakfast occasionally – one to three times a week – were 20 percent less likely to be obese or diabetic than those who would skip breakfast four times or more a week.
Other conditions were taken into consideration as well, such as whether the participants smoked, consumed alcohol, exercised or ate fast food.
Also, those who ate breakfast appeared to have benefited regardless of what they ate. Even so, it is common sense to stick with healthy options. Instead of a doughnut, bear claw or pancakes drenched in maple syrup, your breakfast choice should consist of fruit and vegetables with a serving of whole grains and lean protein.