Breakfast has long been dubbed ‘the most important meal of the day’, but is this really the case?
Experts have now shone a light on this well-known saying – and their findings are quite eye-opening. A new study, carried out by Barcelona’s Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute, looked at 383 individuals aged between 55 and 75 who all suffer from ‘metabolic syndrome’-a group of conditions affecting the heart and circulatory system.
The focus was on how breakfast consumption affected various health indicators such as ‘adiposity’, which refers to the body’s total fat content. This includes ‘triglycerides’, linked with an increased risk of cardiovascular problems, reports Surrey Live.
The results shattered previous beliefs as experts revealed that consuming 20 to 30% of daily energy needs during breakfast correlates with lower body adiposity in older adults. Professor Álvaro Hernáez of Ramon Llull University, who contributed to the project, explained: “Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but what and how you eat it matters.”
“Eating controlled amounts – not too much or too little – and ensuring good nutritional composition is crucial. Our data show that quality is associated with better cardiovascular risk factor outcomes. It’s as important to have breakfast as it is to have a quality one.”
People who treated themselves to a high-quality Mediterranean-style breakfast, full of proteins, beneficial fats, fibre, and minerals, also experienced a 3% increase in HDL cholesterol, commonly known as ‘good cholesterol’, which is associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular issues like strokes or heart disease. Additionally, those individual’s waist circumferences were on average 1.5% smaller.
However, the boffins involved have stressed that further studies are essential for a comprehensive understanding of these links. “Promoting healthy breakfast habits may contribute to healthy ageing by reducing the risk of metabolic syndrome and associated chronic diseases, thereby enhancing quality of life,” the researchers stated.
They further emphasised: “More studies are needed to clarify the role of breakfast quantity and quality in cardiovascular outcomes and other chronic diseases, which could help refine dietary recommendations.”