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• Increases energy. Just like a car low on fuel, skipping meals causes the body to become sluggish. On the other hand, eating breakfast increases one’s metabolism because the body is burning up the food. Our brain needs fuel, in the form of glucose from food, for it to function properly.

“Eating breakfast is very important for the brain and the body,” says Los Angeles registered dietitian Gail Frank, spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association. “Breakfast skippers often feel tired, restless or irritable in the morning.”

• Lowers cholesterol levels. According to a study conducted at the University of Nottingham in England, skipping breakfast can lead to an increase in LDL levels (the bad cholesterol levels), probably from bad food choices and habits. Conversely, a healthy breakfast rich in soluble fiber (found in oatmeal, citrus fruits, vegetables, and strawberries) has been shown to lower cholesterol levels. And lowering your cholesterol levels may prevent a heart attack.

• Helps control weight. Some people think that skipping breakfast can make them lose weight. This is not true. In fact, eating breakfast can actually help you lose weight. According to dietitian Gail Frank, “Breakfast is also very important for weight loss and weight management.”

Studies have shown that people who eat breakfast tend to eat fewer calories the rest of the day. A 1994 report shows that children who skip breakfast are almost twice as likely to be overweight compared to kids who eat breakfast.

The problem with skipping breakfast is that it causes severe hunger patterns later in the day. This results in overeating on the next meal. Moreover, it’s hard to make a healthy food choice when you’re already starving. Nutrition experts believe that it’s better to eat several small meals a day.

In a survey by the National Weight Control Registry, 80 percent of dieters who lost 30 pounds or more ate breakfast regularly. Take note that these people ate a healthy breakfast and not one loaded with fats and calories.

• Improves children’s ability to concentrate. Kids who ate breakfast have gotten higher test scores and shown greater ability to concentrate in class. They were also more alert and creative. This finding is not surprising since it’s hard to think straight when your stomach is growling.

• Improves adult’s work performance. Likewise, adults were better able to perform at work if they have eaten breakfast. Research shows that those who ate breakfast have better concentration, memory, and problem-solving skills than those who skipped breakfast. Perhaps, employers should start encouraging their workers to eat breakfast, too.

• May prevent stomach pain and ulcers. Eating breakfast, more specifically eating several small meals in a day, can help prevent gastritis and stomach ulcers. One common habit of people with ulcers is the tendency to skip meals. Remember that the food we eat stays in the stomach for around four hours only. After which time, the stomach will be empty and will be looking for something to digest. For those with ulcers, take a banana or a piece of bread every two to three hours.

• May prolong life. Dr. Roger Henderson, author of 100 Ways To Live To 100, says, “Researchers recently reported that people who reach the ripe old age of 100 tend to consume breakfast more regularly that those who skip the first meal of the day.”

Dr. Michael Roizen, internist and author, agrees, “Non-breakfast eaters have a mortality rate that is 1.3 to 1.5 times per year higher than those who eat breakfast regularly.”

Eating breakfast also avoids wide swings in your blood sugar from fasting, then overeating. A University of Nottingham study found that those who skipped breakfast were more resistant to insulin, making them at risk for diabetes.

Source: Here