To Skip or not To Skip: The Breakfast Question

Breakfast is important for busy people

You woke up late and rushed out the door without grabbing a bite- it takes a minute to microwave oatmeal and that’s a minute you don’t have. There is a lot of misinformation on the internet regarding the importance of breakfast and it is always important to remember that everyone is unique- some people find that it makes no difference whether they eat breakfast or not. In any case, simply telling people to eat breakfast without giving them advice on how much and what type of food is counterproductive.

Is any breakfast better than no breakfast? 

For a busy person, the answer is probably yes. Skipping breakfast altogether leaves you short in a few critical ways: 

• Metabolism: avoiding breakfast causes your metabolism to slow, meaning you burn less calories throughout the day.
• Blood sugar: your blood needs glucose levels to be restored after a night of fasting. 
• Stress hormones: in particular cortisol, is at its highest point in the morning and breakfast goes a long way lowering its presence.

This is before we get into the murky debate over whether skipping breakfast actually causes weight gain as opposed to weight loss. If you need to be productive between the hours of 9 and 12, it is beneficial to have breakfast. But what if you miss it and your only option is a doughnut in the office? While it is less than ideal, a doughnut still has the very bare essentials needed to spark your brain and stir your body, which many people will take over feeling tired while trying to start a day of work. 

What constitutes a “good breakfast?”

Here are a few guidelines to keep in mind when considering breakfast, whether from the drive-thru or at home. 

• 300-500 calories
• Consumed within 1-2 hours of waking 
• with a mix of protein and good fats

A breakfast with this mix, something like egg and avocado on toast will stabilize blood sugar levels and keep you satiated the longest. Breakfast is important, but so is eating healthy at all points in the day. At Holmes Chiropractic, we know that diet is one of the most important elements of a lifestyle that keeps pain at bay and a smile on your face. 

Dr. Randall Holmes, D.C.