Circulating carbohydrates (blood sugar) are critical fuel for your brain. Studies have shown that for both kids and adults, operating on no breakfast shortchanges thinking power and can affect math skills, reading comprehension, and memory. Studies with children also show that breakfast eaters tend to behave better at school and have more conducive social skills. (Any adult who has had to deal with a “hangry” coworker can probably attest that the same is true for grown-ups!)
Breakfast eaters tend to have a better overall diet than breakfast skippers, and a greater intake of an array of essential nutrients, like protein, fibre, calcium, potassium, and iron. Even opting for a basic bowl of cold cereal (topped with milk of one sort or another) and fruit results in improved intakes of calcium, vitamin D, protein, and other vitamins and minerals.
People who eat breakfast tend to have lower cholesterol levels, which translates to a reduced risk for heart disease. For example, those who choose cereal (particularly oatmeal and other oat-based options) take in more soluble fibre, which may lower harmful LDL levels. Even morning egg eaters have been shown to have cholesterol levels that are just as healthy as those of people who skip eggs (or breakfast altogether). And eating a meal first thing in the am also helps regulate your blood sugar levels, which may help explain why some evidence shows that breakfast eaters have a lower risk of type 2 diabetes.
