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What happens if you don't eat breakfast?

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Breakfast really is the most important meal of the day. It keeps you satiated, energized, and ensures your body is prepared for whatever the day throws at it. But despite this fact, over 30 million Americans skip this meal and millions more choose to eat something that emphasizes convenience over quality, something loaded with sugar that delivers a short burst of energy followed by a big crash.

If the importance of this meal isn’t enough to convince you to tuck in, then maybe these startling facts will. This is what can happen when you don’t eat breakfast.

1. THERE IS AN INCREASED RISK OF DIABETES

Studies show that breakfast skippers are more likely to have type 2 diabetes due to the effects that missing breakfast has on blood sugar levels. Diabetes is one of the biggest killers in the United States. It accounts for about 80,000 deaths every single year and is believed to contribute to nearly 200,000 more.

It’s a very serious condition that could shorten your lifespan if not managed properly and in the US, it’s also a very costly condition to live with.

2. THERE IS AN INCREASED RISK OF HEART DISEASE

Heart disease kills more Americans than diabetes. In fact, it kills more Americans than any other disease, accounting for a quarter of all deaths that occur every year. Lifestyle choices such as smoking and drinking account for a sizeable percentage of all heart disease diagnoses, but there are many other factors involved, including breakfast skipping.

It sounds absurd, but research suggests that individuals who skip breakfast are more likely to develop heart problems, with conditions like hypertension being the most common. This begins to make sense when you consider the other issues mentioned on this list.

3. YOU BECOME MORE IRRITABLE

You’ve probably experienced this yourself—when you don’t eat, your blood sugar drops, and you become more prone to irritation and frustration. This is where the saying “Hangry” comes from, a mixture of “hungry” and “angry” that is common with those who skip breakfast.

4. YOU CRAVE UNHEALTHY FOODS

When you skip breakfast, you’re more prone to craving fatty and sugary foods as your body seeks calorie-dense sustenance to increase your energy levels. A healthy breakfast will set you up for the day and make you more inclined to eat a healthy lunch. If you skip breakfast, however, that salad will look very unappealing and you’ll be more inclined to reach for a candy bar.

5. YOU’RE MORE LIKELY TO BECOME OBESE

Research suggests that people who skip breakfast are 400% more likely to become obese, a condition that can cause a host of diseases, including liver disease, diabetes, heart disease, and even cancer. Simply making time to eat a little breakfast could drastically improve your chances of living a long and healthy life.

6. STOMACH ACID INCREASES

Your body prepares for food by increasing the production of stomach acid. If you don’t eat anything to neutralize this acid, then you’re at risk of developing issues such as acid reflux, where the acid spills out of the stomach and can harm the esophagus and throat. This is especially important if you already suffer from GERD, in which case a healthy breakfast could alleviate your symptoms.

7. DIET PLANS DISAPPEAR

The cravings you feel when you skip breakfast make it hard to stick to your diet. You lack motivation, your will is reduced, and diets go out the window. By starting with a healthy breakfast you’re more likely to stick to it throughout the day, knowing that you started well and using that to motivate you to continue

8. YOU MAY FEEL WEAK AND DIZZY

A lack of glucose will reduce cognitive function and may leave you with headaches and dizziness. This is your body’s way of screaming out to you, begging you to feed it. If you consume a lot of caffeine in the morning, these feelings may be intensified.

9. YOUR WORK OR EDUCATION SUFFER

More frustration and less concentration affect your work and your education. Countless studies have shown that students who skip breakfast are more likely to suffer academically and experience mental fatigue throughout the day.

10. YOU’RE MORE PRONE TO STRESS

Skipping breakfast can increase your cortisol levels, making you more inclined to stress and the problems that go along with it, including anger, high blood pressure, and more. Life is stressful enough as it is, and the irony is that many people skip breakfast to buy themselves more time and become less stressed.

11. YOU HAVE BAD BREATH

No one’s breath smells good in the morning and a cup of coffee or tea just makes it worse. You need food to neutralize that smell, especially if you don’t have time to brush or rinse. To get rid of morning breath completely, eat something in the morning and then brush your teeth—your breath will smell fresh and minty by the time you make it to the office.

12. YOUR MENSTRUAL CYCLE COULD BECOME IRREGULAR

A study conducted in 2009 found that female college students were more likely to develop menstrual irregularities if they skipped breakfast. They were more likely to suffer from irregular bleeding and pain, simply because they skipped their morning dose of macronutrients.

13. YOU RUN THE RISK OF GETTING HYPOGLYCEMIA

If you’ve spent years skipping breakfast and no longer feel like you need that sustenance in the morning, you may have trained your body to do without. The problem is, your body is very good at adapting to these changes and if you continue to skip breakfast then you risk developing hypoglycemia further down the line.

A QUICK AND HEALTHY BREAKFAST

If you skip breakfast because you’re in a hurry and don’t have the time or the will to cook, then our Breakfast Protein can help. It’s just as quick as a bowl of cereal, only it’s considerably healthier, delivering all the protein and fiber you need to kick-start your metabolism, and providing you with a host of vitamins, minerals, and probiotics to keep you strong, healthy, and energized all day long.

It’s also low calorie, so you can enjoy it with a piece of fruit or a pot of coffee without worrying about counting calories.

Breakfast really is the most important meal of the day. It keeps you satiated, energized, and ensures your body is prepared for whatever the day throws at it. But despite this fact, over 30 million Americans skip this meal and millions more choose to eat something that emphasizes convenience over quality, something loaded with sugar that delivers a short burst of energy followed by a big crash.

If the importance of this meal isn’t enough to convince you to tuck in, then maybe these startling facts will. This is what can happen when you don’t eat breakfast.

1. THERE IS AN INCREASED RISK OF DIABETES

Studies show that breakfast skippers are more likely to have type 2 diabetes due to the effects that missing breakfast has on blood sugar levels. Diabetes is one of the biggest killers in the United States. It accounts for about 80,000 deaths every single year and is believed to contribute to nearly 200,000 more.

It’s a very serious condition that could shorten your lifespan if not managed properly and in the US, it’s also a very costly condition to live with.

2. THERE IS AN INCREASED RISK OF HEART DISEASE

Heart disease kills more Americans than diabetes. In fact, it kills more Americans than any other disease, accounting for a quarter of all deaths that occur every year. Lifestyle choices such as smoking and drinking account for a sizeable percentage of all heart disease diagnoses, but there are many other factors involved, including breakfast skipping.

It sounds absurd, but research suggests that individuals who skip breakfast are more likely to develop heart problems, with conditions like hypertension being the most common. This begins to make sense when you consider the other issues mentioned on this list.

3. YOU BECOME MORE IRRITABLE

You’ve probably experienced this yourself—when you don’t eat, your blood sugar drops, and you become more prone to irritation and frustration. This is where the saying “Hangry” comes from, a mixture of “hungry” and “angry” that is common with those who skip breakfast.

4. YOU CRAVE UNHEALTHY FOODS

When you skip breakfast, you’re more prone to craving fatty and sugary foods as your body seeks calorie-dense sustenance to increase your energy levels. A healthy breakfast will set you up for the day and make you more inclined to eat a healthy lunch. If you skip breakfast, however, that salad will look very unappealing and you’ll be more inclined to reach for a candy bar.

5. YOU’RE MORE LIKELY TO BECOME OBESE

Research suggests that people who skip breakfast are 400% more likely to become obese, a condition that can cause a host of diseases, including liver disease, diabetes, heart disease, and even cancer. Simply making time to eat a little breakfast could drastically improve your chances of living a long and healthy life.

6. STOMACH ACID INCREASES

Your body prepares for food by increasing the production of stomach acid. If you don’t eat anything to neutralize this acid, then you’re at risk of developing issues such as acid reflux, where the acid spills out of the stomach and can harm the esophagus and throat. This is especially important if you already suffer from GERD, in which case a healthy breakfast could alleviate your symptoms.

7. DIET PLANS DISAPPEAR

The cravings you feel when you skip breakfast make it hard to stick to your diet. You lack motivation, your will is reduced, and diets go out the window. By starting with a healthy breakfast you’re more likely to stick to it throughout the day, knowing that you started well and using that to motivate you to continue

8. YOU MAY FEEL WEAK AND DIZZY

A lack of glucose will reduce cognitive function and may leave you with headaches and dizziness. This is your body’s way of screaming out to you, begging you to feed it. If you consume a lot of caffeine in the morning, these feelings may be intensified.

9. YOUR WORK OR EDUCATION SUFFER

More frustration and less concentration affect your work and your education. Countless studies have shown that students who skip breakfast are more likely to suffer academically and experience mental fatigue throughout the day.

10. YOU’RE MORE PRONE TO STRESS

Skipping breakfast can increase your cortisol levels, making you more inclined to stress and the problems that go along with it, including anger, high blood pressure, and more. Life is stressful enough as it is, and the irony is that many people skip breakfast to buy themselves more time and become less stressed.

11. YOU HAVE BAD BREATH

No one’s breath smells good in the morning and a cup of coffee or tea just makes it worse. You need food to neutralize that smell, especially if you don’t have time to brush or rinse. To get rid of morning breath completely, eat something in the morning and then brush your teeth—your breath will smell fresh and minty by the time you make it to the office.

12. YOUR MENSTRUAL CYCLE COULD BECOME IRREGULAR

A study conducted in 2009 found that female college students were more likely to develop menstrual irregularities if they skipped breakfast. They were more likely to suffer from irregular bleeding and pain, simply because they skipped their morning dose of macronutrients.

13. YOU RUN THE RISK OF GETTING HYPOGLYCEMIA

If you’ve spent years skipping breakfast and no longer feel like you need that sustenance in the morning, you may have trained your body to do without. The problem is, your body is very good at adapting to these changes and if you continue to skip breakfast then you risk developing hypoglycemia further down the line.

A QUICK AND HEALTHY BREAKFAST

If you skip breakfast because you’re in a hurry and don’t have the time or the will to cook, then our Breakfast Protein can help. It’s just as quick as a bowl of cereal, only it’s considerably healthier, delivering all the protein and fiber you need to kick-start your metabolism, and providing you with a host of vitamins, minerals, and probiotics to keep you strong, healthy, and energized all day long.

It’s also low calorie, so you can enjoy it with a piece of fruit or a pot of coffee without worrying about counting calories.

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Healthy Skoop Team
Consider us your personal health and nutrition experts. The Healthy Skoop Team is here to give you the skoop on the latest health, wellness, and nutrition news.

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