You’ve probably heard the saying “breakfast is the most important meal of the day,” but a new study sheds light on just how important it is.
Researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health found that, in a comprehensive 16-year study of men aged 45-82, those who skipped breakfast were 27 percent more likely to have heart problems.
‘Skipping breakfast may lead to one or more risk factors, including obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes, which may in turn lead to a heart attack over time,’ lead author Leah E. Cahill, said in a press release.
Even when the study’s authors compared the men’s differences in diet, exercise, and habits such as smoking, there was still a clear link between skipping breakfast and heart disease.
So, even if you don’t think you’re a breakfast person, maybe it’s time to add a small morning meal to your routine.
What’s the best thing you can eat in the morning?
According to Cahill, “adding nuts and chopped fruit to a bowl of whole grain cereal or steel-cut oatmeal in the morning is a great way to start the day.”
Do you skip breakfast? If not, what do you usually eat to start the day?
-Katharine Watts, associate web editor