Young People Who Don't Eat a Good Breakfast Have Nutrient Deficiencies
Get up and hit the ground running. It’s the typical image of a typical Monday in the life of a college student or young adult.
The problem with this way of doing things is that it often means you’re giving up important nutrients you would have gotten from eating breakfast.
As many times as you’ve heard it, it doesn’t lose its truth: breakfast is the most important meal of the day.
It makes it so you can start your day on the right foot. Among many other things, it gives your body everything it needs for good health and your daily work.
A good breakfast is even better than any old breakfast. Nutrient deficiencies can cause many different short-term and long-term problems. In fact, not eating a good breakfast is having unexpected negative effects in the population of young people.
Starting off your day well-fueled is essential
The morning is a crucial time in the daily life of a human being. It’s then when you need to consume the energy-providing food your body will require to get you throughout the day.
One thing we know is the breakfast is the first thing you eat after 8 to 10 hours of inactivity and fasting. You’re providing your body the glucose it needs to do the work you have ahead of you.
And when you’re young, the way you eat breakfast now will have an impact on your body type and composition, eating habits, and health in the near future.
“Take a look at this article: 7 Things You Need to Know about Breakfast”
Nutrient deficiencies affect how well your body absorbs iron
Eating a good breakfast means consuming more vitamins and minerals that will be used by your body to do everything you need to do during the day.
Iron deficiencies are one of the main problems seen in people who skip this morning meal.
- In fact, it is known that people who skip it have trouble acquiring and absorbing iron.
- Iron is fundamental in the oxygenation of your cells and also for your immune system to work properly.
- In addition, iron is important if you want to prevent anemia, both in teenagers and adults.
“Want to learn more? The Consequences of Iron Deficiency”
Three things you lose if you don’t eat breakfast
The lack of nutrients that fasting causes hinders physical activity.
Going to the gym without eating breakfast will actually make you lose muscle mass. It is just logical to eat before or after working out.
After all, who can exercise without any energy?
Intellectual “exercise” in the classroom or workplace is also hindered by skipping this meal.
A lack of iron and other nutrients keep your brain from being properly oxygenated, making concentration and learning feel harder.
And as if that weren’t enough, it puts you in a bad mood. This happens due to the low glucose levels, reduced cerebral functioning, and the signs that your body sends you when nutrient stores are running low.
It doesn’t help you lose weight
Some young people skip breakfast, falsely believing that it will help them lose weight.
It’s actually the complete opposite. This fasting can cause imbalances in your metabolism and make you more likely to become obese. Nutrient deficiencies are one of the main reasons for this.
It happens because your body is forced to ration and store the little bit remaining from your previous meals.
So your metabolism will work at “half speed” and unnecessary fat will build up.
That’s why now it’s understood that a hearty, balanced breakfast is obesity’s worst nightmare. Actually, the pancreatic hormone in charge of processing sugars works better in the first hours of the day.
So it’s not strange that trainers and nutritionists suggest eating more for breakfast and lunch. They advise gradually reducing the amount you eat in the evening and at night.
Eating a balanced diet
Nutrient deficiencies do nothing to help you reach your goal of a slim, toned, shapely body. To be honest, one of the advantages of eating in the morning is that you can eat almost any type of food at this time of day.
That’s why consuming fats is recommended between seven in the morning and four in the afternoon. Of course, it’s best to maintain balanced proportions of protein, carbohydrates, and minerals.
To sum up, the best thing to do is to eat a hearty breakfast, a good lunch, moderate snacks, and a rather light dinner.
Remember that starting off your days with nutrient deficiencies can be harmful in the long-term.
All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.
- Leidy, H., Ortinau, L., Douglas, S., & Hoertel, H. (2013). Beneficial effects of a higher-protein breakfast on the appetitive, hormonal, and neural signals controlling energy intake regulation in overweight/obese, “breakfast-skipping,” late-adolescent girls. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 97(4), 677-88.
- López-Sobaler, A., Cuadrado-Soto, E., Peral-Suárez, &., Aparicio, A., & Ortega, R. (2018). Importance of breakfast in the nutritional and health improvement of the population. Nutricion Hospitalaria, 35(Spec No6), 3-6.
- The importance of breakfast and other stories . . . (2013). BMJ : British Medical Journal, 347(Sep23 1), F5720-f5720.
