Breakfast is the first thing on our mind when we look at the clock in the morning.
Whether you have to get ready and leave for work or get a coffee first, many people around the world tend to miss breakfast due to their busy lifestyle.
However, breakfast has been touted as the ‘king of meals’ and the ‘most important meal of the day’ for decades. But are these statements really factual?
Here are six breakfast myths that you need to stop believing:
1. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day
While this is not totally wrong, it is also not entirely correct. Breakfast is an essential part of our meals as it is the first meal we have after our body remains in a fasted state the entire night. Eating in the morning starts the metabolism; however, the meals that we consume later in the day are also crucial. Moreover, ‘what’ we eat in the morning and all through the day matters above ‘when’ we eat. It does not matter whether you eat three or two meals a day as long as you are eating healthy and balanced portions.
2. Having breakfast helps you eat less through the day
If you are having a breakfast loaded with fibre and proteins, it might help you control your cravings better. However, there is no guarantee that just having breakfast will anyhow decrease your total calorie intake in the latter part of the day. People who skip breakfast might be hungrier at lunch due to their prolonged fasting state, but it does not mean that people who have breakfast would necessarily eat fewer calories. There are so many reasons such as thirst, boredom or stress that may lead you to munch through the day even after having breakfast.
3. Having breakfast aids weight loss
The premise of this myth rests upon the assumption that having breakfast will enable a person to reduce their calorie intake through the day. However, if you are not having a filling and nutritious breakfast, the chances are that you may end up eating just as much as breakfast skippers in the afternoon. The quality of your meals matters a lot when it comes to weight loss. Therefore, having breakfast may not necessarily reduce your weight as you need to be in a calorie deficit for losing weight.
4. Missing breakfast results in loss of muscle mass
If you are trying to gain and wondering whether skipping breakfast will cause loss of muscle mass, don’t worry. While it is true that fasting for an extended period can cause muscle mass to decrease, it takes over 16 hours of fasting for the body to start breaking down muscle mass. Unless you plan on not having dinner as well, no need to worry about losing muscle mass.
5. Skipping breakfast helps with weight loss
Some people prefer to skip breakfast in their struggle towards losing weight. However, if you are skipping breakfast and saving 300 calories but then eating 600 or more calories at lunch and dinner, you will not be losing any weight as your body will not successfully slip into a calorie deficit. Also, everyone’s breakfast needs are different. Some people are full in the morning with just a fruit while others need a hearty toast and omelette. These preferences matter when talking about calorie consumption and weight loss.
