OPINION: Breakfast important for health

By Diana Lee
BlueDevilHUB.com Staff–

You’ve probably heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day—there is a reason that people say that.

Many studies in the past have shown that eating breakfast in the morning improves performance at work or school, while giving you more energy to engage in physical activity.

But does a bowl of sugary, artificially dyed fruit loops really help jumpstart your metabolism for the day? Well, believe it or not, it’s better than nothing.

Although cereals and doughnuts that are high in sugar may not be the ideal fuel for your body in the morning, they will at least help your brain and your body get moving.

“When I don’t eat breakfast my body feels very stagnant,” junior Aahwan Koirala said. “I’d so much rather have an unhealthy breakfast than none, because then at least I won’t feel so hungry and dull until lunch.”

Choosing to skip breakfast because nothing in your house is very healthy is a decision you will probably end up regretting later in the day.

According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, people who ate breakfast, regardless of the breakfast’s nutritional value displayed better performance at work and school than those who didn’t.

However, this does not mean that you should hit up the breakfast menu at your local McDonald’s every morning. In fact, research is often times mixed when discussing breakfast and health.

“It’s all about maintaining balance,” said Marilyn Townsend, a specialist at the UC Davis department of nutritions. “[I’d recommend] a combination of the food groups….Cereal isn’t a bad choice, but I’d recommend a food that has a protein source, and then something from fruits and vegetables.”

Eating a consistent and nutritious breakfast is the best way to ensure your health and energy levels throughout the day.