Breakfast, The Dangers of Eating Unhealthy Meals
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. The word breakfast refers to breaking the fasting period you’ve engaged in while sleeping the night before. By skipping the day’s first meal, you’re continuing the fasting period that started the night before. It is imperative to eat breakfast to kickstart your metabolism and provide your body with the fuel it needs to sustain energy and focus throughout the day.
A well-balanced, healthy breakfast comes into play in your favor to meet your daily caloric intake. Unfortunately, for most, breakfast is the meal they most consistently skip, or a selection of poor food choices happens at the start of the day.
Eating unhealthy breakfast meals results in long-term health problems. Nutrition-deficient foods are often high in calories, fat, and sugar, and introducing these items at the start of the day leads to severe repercussions in the long term. Consumption of these foods in excess can lead to weight gain, chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease, and depression. Additionally, eating unhealthy breakfasts can cause a loss of concentration throughout the day due to an energy crash afterward. Guarantee a healthy start to the day by avoiding junk food and opting for healthier alternatives.
The following article discusses seven unhealthy breakfast meals to avoid. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is essential. Besides discussing how they can negatively affect your health, I’ll also provide more nutritious alternatives.
6 Unhealthy AM Meals That Are Bad for Your Health
Sugary Cereals
Despite the colorful packaging, and sweet, crunchy flavor profile, breakfast cereals should be off the dining table. Most cereals are high in sugar, an ingredient that won’t sustain you throughout the day. A high-sugar, low-protein cereal will cause a spike in blood sugar levels. Thus when insulin kicks in, irritability and hunger occur.
Bagels
Bagels are a popular breakfast choice in New York City, a staple for those on the go! Yet, these round pieces of bread can add roundness to the waist. An average bagel contains 600 calories. These calories don’t include the added calories from typical toppings such as butter, jelly, or cream cheese.
Pancakes
As the name implies, pancakes are cakes that originate from a pan. Cakes for breakfast are not a healthy choice. Thus, we should also limit pancakes and waffles since it does not fuel your body throughout the day. Some pancake/waffle mix brands are high in calories, fat, and sugar and lack adequate protein and fiber.
Pastries
Cakes are a typical delight for breakfast, known under the fancy guise of pastries. Donuts, danishes, and toaster pastries are a few examples of lousy breakfast choices. Sadly, this food choice is filled with sugar, fat, and calories while low in protein and fiber. Save the cakes for birthday parties and holidays.
Specialty Coffee Beverages
Coffee is a staple beverage for the morning. What about specialty coffee drinks? Sure these beverages can taste sweet and delicious. That’s because these specialty beverages are high in sugar. How high, you ask? A few drinks contain over 70 grams of sugar, equal to 280 calories per serving.
Fruit Juices
Many fruit juices, especially mass-produced and highly processed ones, are very high in sugar and low in other nutrients. Drink freshly squeezed or cold-pressed juices for a healthier alternative. It’s easy to get tricked. Even if you’re buying juices labeled “all-natural” or “no sugar added,” the fruit sugar concentration can still make for some seriously high amounts of sugar in each serving.
Healthier AM Meal Alternatives
Food | Benefit |
Greek yogurt | Greek yogurt contains many beneficial nutrients such as calcium, vitamin B12, zinc, potassium, and probiotics for healthy digestion. |
Eggs | Loaded with protein, antioxidants, and choline, a vital nutrient for brain and liver health. |
Oatmeal | Oatmeal is a superfood. It has a good source of iron, B vitamins, manganese, magnesium, zinc, and selenium. |
Green tea | The high concentration of L-theanine in this tea can also reduce the effects associated with caffeine. Studies show green tea may improve moods and reduce anxiety levels. |
Coffee | Looking for a natural way to enhance performance during training sessions? Coffee is a popular pre-workout beverage! |
Fruits | Fruits are high in vitamins and antioxidants, which are crucial to overall health. |