Hey guys! Last week a friend emailed me this article on Why Eating Breakfast Might Make you Hungrier. I think she expected me to reply back with a couple of lines but it ended up being full-on rant (sorry, Manny 🙂). As a breakfast lover, Dr. Mercola’s attempt to put breakfast in a negative light, both in terms of health & weight loss, really agitated me. People will believe anything they read on the internet and it worries me that some people would start to forego breakfast as result of this article. Isn’t that what has happened with regards to eating carbs at night…or eating anything at night for that matter?! While it’s a debate that’s likely going to continue, I wanted to share my viewpoint.
As soon as I skimmed the article, my first thought was that it contradicted countless studies and theories based on the idea that eating breakfast “wakes up our metabolism to start burning calories”. As I started to read on, a number of points overtook that.
Firstly I hate the idea that this article portrays hunger as a bad thing in this article. Its opening argument is “Many people feel hungry after eating breakfast, because it coincides with your circadian cortisol peak…” Whether your goal is to aim is to lose, maintain or gain weight, hunger should not be feared or always avoided. If anything, it’s a sign that your metabolism is working and your body needs refueling. Hunger pangs communicate health and life. Let’s examine the people who don’t experience hunger:
- The sick (physically/emotionally)
- Extremely stressed
- The deceased
More than, this article is far too simplistic. Firstly the studies discussed were all done on animal subjects- how can you transfer the results to human beings? That aside, it’s one thing to say that you will only eat for during an 8-hour window but actually following through is a whole different story. You might be able to for one or 2 days but could repeatedly trying to fast be setting yourself up for a binge?
And more than that isn’t it fostering a negative relationship towards food that it should be off-limits for a majority of the day? Elaborating on that point, it also touches on the idea that this is the way our ancestors used to eat. While that might be true, something called evolution has taken place and continues to do so. Over the years, our bodies & lifestyles have changed from 100 years ago. Naturally that means our bodily processes and needs follow suit. Especially in this generation where a number of social outings are based around food, the actual practice of intermittent fasting isn’t as easily feasible as portrayed. Also while our ancestors survived on this style of eating, we are living in a generation where we have the option to go beyond survival. Why merely survive when we can thrive?
The article ends on the beneficial impact of exercising on a fasting state. I blogged about it in depth here, but it’s far too simplistic to say that our body will tap into fat reserves as a result. Weight loss & burning fat ultimately comes down to one thing: burning more calories than you’re taking in. If you fuel yourself pre-workout, your intensity levels during the workout is bound to increase. The more energy you have, the harder you will push yourself and therefore your calorie burn per session will naturally shoot up.
While I’m sure plenty of people have success with intermittent fasting, I don’t think it’s something I’m going to get on board with it anytime soon…nor is it something I promote. If anything, I encourage people to make breakfast a key component of his/her lifestyle. On that note I should probably go & make a batch of overnight oats for breakfast tomorrow ;)!
What’s your take- yay or nay for breakfast?
What was breakfast today?
You HAVE TO check out The Beirut Breakfasts – a photo blog/page on Facebook…
I could not- not have breakfast, even days when I have to have a late breakfast for some reason I don’t feel as energised- So a big- yay!!! I also love eating in the morning-it feels the most natural time to do so for me! I enjoy a lovely big breakfast that frequently changes- this morning was mushrooms on toast with lots of butter(not as large as usual- my stomach is still sensitive) but yesterday was porridge with butter and honey (it’s butter season on my nonnnas farm- the butter is good!) I have low blood pressure-and I know intuitively fasting would not go down well with my body! P.S your eggs look so perfect!! Lots of hugs Sophia
I love the sound of fresh butter on oatmeal…am sure it is decadently delicious! 🙂
Ooh it is heavenly- try it on a morning you feel calls for a bit of decadence Kushboo 😉
Will do, thanks 🙂
If anyone ever suggested to my face that I should skip breakfast…I don’t even know what I would say. It would not be pretty, I assure you. I hate the idea of fasting diets and whatnot…it just seems so unnecessary. And not particularly enjoyable.
I haven’t gotten to breakfast yet (but it obviously will be happening…no skipping breakfast for me, ever) but I’m thinking it’ll be a green smoothie…it’s been hot lately!
Hahah I’ll hold the person and you slap the sh1t out of that person ;)!
I have eaten breakfast pretty much everyday of my life, as has my dad, and we are both lean, fit and healthy! My mum rarely eats breakfast and she is on the larger side!
If I don’t eat breakfast I feel really light headed and horrible. The body NEEDS to eat after sleeping, hence why it’s called breaking the fast! Your body does all this repair work over night and it needs to refuel! To not eat breakfast is to not listen to your body’s needs!
I think the whole idea of hunger being a bad thing is stupid. Hunger = body wants food = eat!
My breakfast this morning was a banana and raspberry protein smoothie on the way to work!
Btw, that breakfast in the first picture looks so yum!
That’s a great observation about the effect on yours & your dad’s figure versus your mom! Love the sound of your breakfast- perfect for summer :)!
I grew up eating breakfast [thanks to my momma] and have to have breakfast nowadays… Otherwise I get hangry! This morning it was pancakes with cottage cheese + strawberry preserves + almond butter and a side of berries 😀
When can I come over for breakfast? 😉
Breakfast is the reason I get out of bed in the morning. I just don’t get how anyone can start their day without breakfast even if it is just a piece of fruit. Today had an egg white omelette and butter toast for breakfast (ran out of pb:( so had to substitute it). Cant wait for yogurt bowls and waffles next week – woooo 5 days to go!!!!!
Wahoo Monday can’t come any sooner…we can also add cinnamon toast to the list 🙂
I dunno…maybe it’s a personal thing? I am not a breakfast person at all, I am not even a morning person. Anything more than green tea slows me up and makes me lethargic.
It’s definitely a case of “different strokes for different folks” 🙂
😯 Skip… breakfast?! I’m definitely not on board with that. Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day, and one of the main reasons I get out of bed in the morning. I can’t even function without a morning meal, so trying to force myself to go without one would make me a pretty useless (and scary) human being. I can delay breakfast for an hour or two if I’m not feeling particularly hungry, but there’s no way I can skip it all together. And speaking of breakfast, I’m just in the process of making it (it’s 6:30 AM here), but it’s going to be eggy oats with almond butter and jam. Can.not.wait.
Blasphemy right! I knew I could count on you to share my sentiments towards this preposterous article :)!
I am a breakfast skipper but i understand how for some people that is like whatttttt. My mom is a dedicated breakfast eater but me and my sister never enjoyed that breakfast time, strange how people can be so different!
Your mom & I would make great friends 🙂
As I’ve said before, breakfast is the only reason I get out of bed! 🙂 But seriously, breakfast is what fuels our bodies for the first part of the day. After not eating for over 7-8 hours, food is necessary. Personally, if I don’t eat a proper breakfast, I tend to overeat later in day. Great post, K! Thanks for debunking the myth.
Same here….and along with overeating, my cravings are all over the place on days I forego breakfast!
YAY on breakfast! I literally couldn’t tell you the last time I didn’t eat breakfast. That would be like not brushing my teeth in the morning. This am I had oats with flax seed mixed in topped with almond butter and blueberries. SO good! P.S.–that article sounds cray. Thanks for debunking it!
YUM at the sound of your breakfast..that combo is RIGHT up my alley 🙂
Breakfast is a major YAY for me. I HAVE to have it! While I do not always eat breakfast right after I wake up, it always ALWAYS make an appearance at some point in my morning :).
Same here…even if it’s 2 hours after waking up, breakfast WILL happen 🙂
What a bafoon!! Even without the research, eating breakfast just MAKES SENSE!! The hunger is our bodies way of saying HEY I NEED FUEL, which can be detected without all the science and studies. BOO to this article, I NEED breakfast and there have been so many proven studies of breakfast aiding in slimmer lifestyle. This article is garbage, and I would have ranted too!! I’m with ya!
Hahah I haven’t heard the word “bafoon” in forever- thanks for the laugh 🙂
very interesting article there – lot of things did not make sense to me but oh well. whatever the article says, in my experience and according to many readers here and majority of my patients have showed better results from eating breakfast and jump starting their day, don’t know it works in mice or during caveman period. Loved how you highlighted important points 🙂
Sometimes experience speaks much more than any amount of research 🙂
You don’t want to be anywhere near me if I don’t get my food as soon as I wake up 😉 NO WAY could I skip breakfast! I love everything about it! The foods, the morning routine, the taste, the fuel for a killer AM workout–Oh yeah. So even if this article was totally accurate, etc.? I’ll take a hit to my fat-burning/metabolism, totally worth it. This AM? Two fried eggs, toast and sauteed zucchini. YUM. I’m not about to pass on that any time soon.
Also, “Let’s examine the people who don’t experience hunger: …The deceased” cracked me up 😀
Yesss breakfast is much like coffee for me i.e. it’s all about the routine. As yummy as it is, I like starting my day off on a peaceful note and eating breakfast while watching TV or doing non-work related stuff on my computer…it’s the only way I feel somewhat ready to start being productive!
I haven’t actually clicked over to read the article, but after reading this post I don’t think I will. I have a feeling it’ll only make me angry! I am in 100% agreement with your view, skipping breakfast to feel less hungry? What nonsense is that. And I love how you point out people who don’t feel hunger signals—seriously! Since when is a growling stomach a bad thing. It means youre hungry and its time to eat, and hey btw, everything’s working just fine down there. It drives me nuts all the science, research, and thought that goes into eating habits and eating healthy. My personal opinion is that it’s not rocket science. Eat when you’re hungry, and eat what you crave.
As helpful as researchers are trying to be, they’re confusing matters more so by the day! Each study is starting to produce more confusion than benefit!
I can’t imagine a morning without breakfast–breakfast MAKES the morning! If I go much longer than an hour without fuel after waking, I feel not only lethargic, but irritable and light-headed. Sure, I bet my body would adjust after a few weeks sans breakfast, but why would I want to make that adjustment? I’ve eaten breakfast every day for as long as I can remember, and I’m certainly not fat. Nor do I have crazy cravings, an insatiable appetite, or mood swings. Articles and studies such as this one only confuse the public, which perpetuates a more distorted relationship with food and body image. Gah! It makes my blood boil!
On a happier note, I had a delicious breakfast this morning: scrambled eggs with spinach, tomatoes, and Parmesan cheese; roasted butternut squash, and fresh raspberries. 🙂
Happy Wednesday, Khushboo! <3 xoxo
I saw your breakfast on Insta and it was the prettiest meal I’ve seen in a while…so colorful! When can I come over :)!
I’m a “eat if you are hungry” person. If I’m not hungry in the morning, I simply don’t eat breakfast. If I do, it will usually be a small breakfast if it’s during the week day at work because I start at 10 anyway and lunch is soon. On the weekends, I may go out and eat so I sometimes do eat a HUGE breakfast. I don’t follow a set schedule when I eat and just eat whenever I’m hungry and this has worked for me for years!
As much as I love breakfast daily, your approach sounds very sensible…and I’m glad it’s working for you 🙂
LOL it’s funny you posted about this. I’m just putting up a post now about hormones and such, and one of the points (which will be in tomorrow’s post) is about skipping breakfast to avoid hunger. It baffles me when people say they don’t like having breakfast because it makes them hungry… uh, yeah, because it’s waking up your metabolism!?
It kills me when people discuss ‘hunger’ like it’s the devil! Looking forward to reading your post 🙂
Man, am I glad I ate breakfast today, else I’d have to hear it. 🙂 I had coconut + pb butter on toast w/banana slices + tea. I’m working from home today, hence breakfast. Unfortunately I don’t eat breakfast 4 days a week because the coffee kills my appetite… but then I eat a good lunch and a good dinner. I guess it works for my body type. These days though, I’m trying to bring fruit to work, so around 3 pm I have something to snack on. 🙂
Despite my rant, I think it’s all about finding a medium which works for your body. I think my biggest “bone” with the article was that it portrayed breakfast as being something everyone should avoid for optimal health!
ahh, these new theories 🙂
apart from the fact that these days I get my breakkfast after few long hours of waking up, I’m all BIG YAY for breakfast. Can’t live without my eggs and occasional muesli 🙂
Haha really! These theories are coming in at a dime a dozen!
I actually have read articles that talk about this, about delaying breakfast to a later time in the day. For me anyways, I’ve found that my hunger levels are drastically increased throughout the day if I have a nutrient-packed, “wholesome” breakfast or a “sugary” one, if I eat “too early”. I’ve found that waiting to eat after a few hours from when I wake up greatly helps my hunger levels. It’s hard to do that on a regular basis cause I often wake up at 5 or 6 am in the morning, and I’ll be ravenous at times. In those cases, I will eat something, but then I’ll be hungry constantly throughout the day. The hunger may be due to other reasons as well (school stress being one of them!!), but I still find the theory quite interesting.
It’s funny- I find that the days where I wake up super hungry, my appetite is all over the place…but then again it’s just a matter of getting your body used to a certain approach!
I love this line: “something called evolution has taken place and continues to do so.” My friends don’t even send me articles like this because they fear my rant. I’m not a huge fan of fasting either, certainly not long term or with the idea of being able to sustain it as a lifestyle, and I absolutely think its setting yourself up for bingeing and failure.
I think the motive behind fasting can make all the difference. While it’s one thing to fast for religious reasons, fasting with hopes for weight loss is a terrible idea, in my ever so humble opinion 🙂