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| Media Release |
SKIPPING BREAKFAST DOES MORE HARM THAN GOOD
AUBURN, MARCH 10, 2000---Many Americans who skip breakfast in the morning are doing themselves far more harm than good.
For most people, skipping breakfast is prompted entirely by dietary concerns. They believe the myth "fewer meals mean fewer calories," says Dr. Robert Keith, a nutritionist with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System.
"Time between supper and the next day’s lunch can run as long as 16 hours. During that time, blood sugar drops and you may feel really bad by the time lunch rolls around," Keith says.
Blood sugar is the principal brain food and contributes to higher levels of mental performance. If your brain lacks fuel, you may not think well during early morning hours prior to lunch.
Children who skip breakfast are at the worst disadvantage. Studies exploring the effects of breakfast on learning ability show children who eat breakfast tend to do much better in school.
Those people who don't eat breakfast to control weight may be in for a shock, Keith says. People tend to eat more calories than people who eat breakfast because they get hungry prior to lunch and are more inclined to snack between meals or eat more high-fat foods at lunchtime. Keith says a mediocre breakfast is better than no breakfast at all. Even a bad breakfast is better than no breakfast at all, he says.
It’s not hard to get a good breakfast. Breakfast cereals are fortified and pancakes made with milk provide some calcium. All in all, breakfast presents an excellent opportunity to get the nutrients the body needs to carry it through the day.
"Even a slice of cake and a glass of milk for breakfast is better than nothing," Keith says, "because at the very least you’re raising your blood-sugar levels and getting some calcium and other nutrients."
On the other hand, there’s one quick-energy breakfast approach that should be avoided, Keith says.
Within the last decade, sodas have become popular breakfast drinks for teenagers and young adults. Many young people drink sodas instead of eating breakfast foods. The effects of this can be harmful.
"If you drink a cola beverage with a high percentage of sugar, the sugar gets into your bloodstream quickly. Within 30 minutes, insulin goes way up and takes out the sugar. This causes a number of unpleasant physical symptoms," Keith says.
The body corrects itself after a while, but for about an hour you feel really bad."
Despite warnings from experts, most people don’t take breakfast seriously. An American Heart Association survey reveals 13 percent of the women and 16 percent of the men don't take time in the morning to eat breakfast, even though most popular breakfast foods require little preparation.
Source: DR. ROBERT KEITH, Nutritionist, Alabama Cooperative Extension System, (334) 844-3273