Yes or no to breakfast? Opinions differ on this question. Should we eat a big breakfast in the morning or not? Nutrition experts have a clear answer.
In the morning like an emperor, at noon like a king, in the evening like a beggar... This saying has haunted many families for generations. But is there really anything to it? In other words, should we really eat our biggest meal in the morning? At the latest since interval fasting has become one of the major nutritional trends, many people skip breakfast. After all, it's usually more convenient and more socially acceptable than dinner canceling. After all, we'd rather not do without dinner with a dear friend or family, but rather save breakfast.
Blood sugar level + metabolism: clear arguments for a big breakfast
But this is anything but a good idea because according to nutritionists, we should definitely eat something in the morning - and preferably a good portion. There are several reasons for this. First, the clear breakfast recommendation is related to blood sugar levels. If we eat nothing or very little in the morning, this can hurt it. A large breakfast provides for a not so strong rise in blood sugar and the insulin mirror, which prevents once hot hunger attacks and can protect in the long term against diabetes. This has been proven in a study.
The second important reason for eating breakfast is our metabolism. A research team has found that the metabolism works much faster after a large meal early in the day than after a sumptuous dinner. So eating breakfast boosts metabolism. "Our study shows that the human energy metabolism is basically higher in the morning than in the evening," explains study leader Prof. Kerstin Oltmanns. "This is genetically determined and is the case for everyone."
And what if I'm absolutely not hungry in the morning?
So from a medical point of view, the answer to the question of whether we should eat breakfast in the morning is clearly yes. But if you're one of those people who absolutely can't get anything down in the morning, then of course it makes little sense to force yourself to eat. Because our hunger pangs actually tell us - if we really listen to them and haven't learned to suppress them - when and how much food our body needs.
So if you don't want to think about breakfast right after you get up, it's best to just wait until you get hungry. Many people think that they absolutely have to wait until lunch if they have missed the classic breakfast time slot. But you can still have a snack during the morning. Or you can just have a snack, like a banana, a yogurt, or a smoothie. This way, you can at least keep your blood sugar level constant and provide your body and brain with some energy.