Sometimes you wake up ravenous. I’ll be rolling out of bed straight to the fridge to get a fix of whatever I can before even checking my phone some mornings.
But other times, you might wake up and not even think of breakfast.
However, an expert has shared the dangerous effect that not eating in the morning can have on your body.
Nutrition therapist Justin Nault. (@theclovisculture), who runs nutrition brand Clovis, responded to a fan asking why it’s so bad to skip eating in the morning ‘if you’re not hungry’.
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He says that this is actually a ‘really important signal from your body’.
And it really is important to get that morning meal in, whether you think you want it or not.
Advice issued by the NHS for ‘healthy eating’ also includes: “Do not skip breakfast.”
While it may also be because they’re not particularly peckish, people tend to do this because they reckon it’ll help with losing weight.
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However, the health service explains: “But a healthy breakfast high in fibre and low in fat, sugar and salt can form part of a balanced diet, and can help you get the nutrients you need for good health.”
Justin says that not being hungry in the morning could mean there’s ‘metabolic adaptation in the wrong direction’.
“There’s a lot of talk online about fasting and intermittent fasting and how it makes your hunger go away,” he says.
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“That’s not a good thing – hunger is one of our most basic primal survival instincts.”
The coach goes on to explain that it’s ‘not a bad thing’ and we should stop looking it as such.
He continues: “So if you’re not hungry first thing in the morning, that’s actually a sure sign that you should start eating when you first wake up.”
Clovis recommends getting in 30 grams of protein within 30 minutes of getting up – that would likely be a few eggs plus some protein powder, which probably wouldn’t be for everyone.
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He adds: “But you wanna start getting protein first thing in the morning to kick start your metabolism.”
On the other hand, the NHS recommends: “A wholegrain lower sugar cereal with semi-skimmed milk and fruit sliced over the top is a tasty and healthier breakfast.”
The Association of UK Dietitians also say: “Research has shown that people who eat breakfast have more balanced diets than those who skip it, are less likely to be overweight, lose weight more successfully if overweight, and have reduced risk of certain diseases such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes.”
Topics: Health, Food And Drink, TikTok
Jess Battison