The effects of skipping breakfast are harmful as well as long-lasting. And definitely, not limited to teenagers. Probably, all of us have skipped breakfast at some point in our lives without giving it much thought. Especially, when we were teens. It was almost fashionable to not eat anything in the morning. But if we knew about the havoc it wreaks on our bodies, I’m sure we’ll rethink our decision.
10 Things That Happen to Your Body When You Skip Breakfast
Here are some damaging things missing breakfast does to your body. Stop to think about these the next time you want to skip breakfast.
1. Your Energy Will Stay Down for the Rest of the Day
Breakfast is the first meal of the day. It provides the energy your body requires to kick start its metabolism. If you’re skipping breakfast in the morning, you’re more likely to have a big lunch. Suddenly throwing so much food into your system puts a burden on it. It takes more time for your body to digest that big lunch, meaning you won’t get sufficient energy from it. Eating a light breakfast means giving your body something easy to digest, which in turn, provides enough energy to last till lunch.
2. Skipping Breakfast Increases your Craving for Junk Food
Let’s be honest. We all love junk food even though it is unhealthy. And it is probably the first thing we crave when we are hungry. So, if you skip breakfast, chances are you’re going to end up eating fast food like pizza, burgers, fries, and other heavily fried food for lunch. You’re also very likely to have mid-morning snacks, in the name of ‘a late breakfast’ which is entirely unhealthy.
3. You’re Likely to Gain More Weight
Skipping breakfast leaves you feeling hungry throughout the day. You’re likely to eat more in order to satisfy your hunger. All that eating, specifically unhealthy eating, will lead to weight gain. It is obvious how dangerous this little habit can be in the long run. Not only that, but it is also harder for people who don’t have regular breakfast to lose weight. Their digestive system is in bad shape and it takes a lot of lifestyle changes and discipline to get it going smoothly again.
4. Skipping Breakfast from Daily Diet Causes Stress
‘Hangry’ has become a common term these days. It’s a combination of the words “angry” and “hungry” meaning being hungry to the point of becoming irritated and frustrated. That is also the reason why some people ‘stress eat’. When you’re stressed out, you crave something sweet and eating makes you feel better. If your stomach is empty because you skipped breakfast, you’re more susceptible to mood swings, stress, and frustration.
5. Skipping Breakfast also Decreases your Concentration and Focus
According to research conducted between kids aged 10 – 17, those who had breakfast showed better short term memory. This means that having a breakfast high in energy improves your memory and concentration. You will be able to focus better on the task at hand because your brain has the energy to utilize it. When you miss breakfast, along with feeling down, your concentration will also suffer. You will have a low attention span as well.
6. Not Eating Proper Breakfast Affects Menstruation Cycle of Young Women
According to some studies, missing breakfast can also affect your menstruation cycle. Especially if you’re a young adult, there are more chances of your period cycle becoming irregular. Due to sudden and rapid hormone changes in a young female body, periods are already hard to deal with. The changes are normal but they can cause discomfort and disturbances. Not eating a proper breakfast just fuels those problems.
7. It Leads to Stinking Breath
There are innumerable bacteria and enzymes in your mouth which help in the digestion process. When you chew food those enzymes become active and also produce more saliva, which in turn, maintains the pH level inside your mouth. In simple words, eating food keeps the bad germs responsible for stinky breath away from your mouth. It leads to a healthy and hygienic mouth.
If you skip breakfast, your mouth won’t undergo this process, causing your breath to stink. This situation can be both temporary or permanent. If you’ve skipped breakfast meals for most of your life, you are more likely to have bad breath in old age.
8. Avoiding Breakfast Contributes to Heart Disease
In the long run, not eating breakfast properly and regularly causes heart disease. According to a scientific study. Atherosclerosis was found common in people, who did not have a habit of eating breakfast regularly. Atherosclerosis is a medical condition where plaque builds up in arteries, causing a blockage. This, in turn, leads to poor blood circulation and increases the risk of a heart attack. It is also linked to strokes in patients.
9. Diabetes is More Observed in People Who are Skipping Breakfast
Poor blood circulation and numerous heart-related diseases are common in people who skip breakfast for a long period of time. The above-mentioned conditions are also primary factors causing diabetes. Skipping breakfast leads to overeating and craving junk food. This messes up blood sugar levels greatly in people. When the body stays in that state for an extended time, it leads to diabetes. Poor lifestyle choices and unhealthy eating habits worsened the condition of diabetics to the point where it is impossible for them to overcome diabetes for the rest of their lives. Diabetics had to maintain a balanced diet to remain healthy.
10. Skipping Breakfast Can Even Cause Cardiovascular Death
Like mentioned before, skipping breakfast is the fastest route to various diseases and medical disorders. Heart diseases and related issues are prevalent in people not used to eating a well-balanced breakfast. Hypertension, which is also known as high blood pressure in medical terms, affects the blood flow to the heart. You might think they are not that serious and you can live with those issues. But if left as is, it can even lead to death. A great study shows that people who regularly skipped breakfast or did not have well-balanced and nutritional eating habits met cardiovascular deaths.
In conclusion, having a proper breakfast every day is essential if you want to avoid medical complications and live a long life. It doesn’t have to be a grand meal that takes two hours to prepare. Simply, toast some bread, fry an egg or cut some fruits to top your cereal and you’re good to go. It will last you a few hours till lunch, not make you “hangry”, improve your concentration and productivity, put you in a positive mood, and prevent a number of serious and fatal diseases.
What more can you ask from a simple meal? The benefits completely outweigh the cons, if there are any in the first place.
Also Read: Here are some easy, quick, and low-calorie breakfast recipes that would help you restart your routine with health and taste.
