Should You Really Be Eating Breakfast?

For years, we have all heard the same line: “Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.” And for years, many of us have also wondered: “But what if I am just not hungry?”

Welcome to one of the most confusing nutrition debates ever. However, recently, some evidence has called that into question. Meta-analyses have found that, in many cases, there is no relationship between body weight and whether people eat breakfast. On the other hand, the different data suggest that there may be a relationship between not eating breakfast and a higher risk of metabolic disease, such as Type 2 Diabetes. 

Not to mention, this has led to lifetime breakfast skippers feeling vindicated and lifetime breakfast eaters wondering if they have been scammed (or whether they should quit their morning toast).

So, should you eat breakfast or skip it? The honest answer is - it depends on your body, your lifestyle and your chronotype. Let's read more to understand better!

Your Body has a Natural Rhythm

Every person is different and therefore has their own chronotype, which is your internal pattern of waking, sleeping and feeling hungry. 

These patterns are largely genetic, though they also change with age. Teenagers, for instance, are legendary for their sloth-like sleep schedules during a period of intense physical development. Older people, by comparison, tend to sleep less.

Why do some people Struggle Without Breakfast?

Chronotypes may account for some of our eating preferences during the day. Some people wake up hungry, others don’t (and find eating in the morning unpleasant). However, some people may skip breakfast because they are busy and rushed, and not take good care of themselves. These people probably have different experiences of skipping breakfast than those who simply aren’t hungry right after waking up. 

But one problem in this practice is that sometimes, skipping breakfast (or not eating much earlier in the day) is strongly linked to overeating at night. In this case, a 400-calorie breakfast that isn't eaten at 8 AM could easily become a 2000-calorie cupboard raid at 8 PM. 

Other times, people who skip breakfast simply get around to eating when they are hungry, perhaps around mid-morning, and go on with their day feeling perfectly regulated; they don’t overeat later in the day to compensate.

So, Should You Eat Breakfast?

There is no, but here is what science consistently says:

• Everyone is Different: If you can skip breakfast and do OK later, because that’s your natural chronotype, then that’s what works for you.
• Follow the Data: If you are a breakfast skipper that binge eats at night, then skipping breakfast is certainly not the best strategy for your body.
• Experiment with the Composition: If you eat breakfast but it’s a sugary cereal, then try swapping it with plenty of lean protein and fibre. You will likely see a much different consequence for yourself with this. 

The Bottom Line

At the end of the day, you must remember that breakfast is not a rule that you must follow. What matters most is how your body feels and functions. With small and supportive morning habits, you can automatically make your day easier for yourself. Whether you eat at 8 AM or 11 PM, the goal stays the same: Give your body something steady to start the day well.

At Akya, we simply aim to make the first step a little gentler, whether through a warm cup of our AM tea or with our morning vitamin essentials, you choose for yourself.