Is skipping breakfast or lunch good for your body? Expert weighs in

 Source: https://www.news9live.com/health/health-news

Breakfast is perceived as healthiest meal of the day as compared to other meals. But in today’s busy and hectic life schedule people tend to skip their breakfast in a rush to reach office on time. This also happens with lunch meals, due to lot of pressure at work, we often forget, miss or skip our lunch. But determining the consequences of this is extremely essential.

On the other hand, some people also believe that skipping breakfast or lunch meal may help them lose weight or they may achieve it sooner but in reality what is the truth?

According to a report, it is claimed that skipping breakfast meals may increase the risk of obesity.

In conversation with News9, Vedika Premnani, Clinical Dietician, Sir H.N. Reliance Foundation Hospital, Mumbai said, “Breakfast” is the breaking of your nightly fast, so, in theory, this break can happen any time of day. The way your body responds to organised eating timings can vary widely depending on your sleep patterns, hunger pangs and how high your energy demands are early in the day. If consumed correctly, it provides you with sufficient fuel to get through the day, focus and mood. Many studies suggest that frequent starvation may lead to dizziness, low blood pressure, weakness, dehydration and lethargy.”

Starting your day with a hearty breakfast and making dinner plans tend to be on most people’s daily to-do lists. But most people tend to skip lunch due to a clash with peak working hours.

Consequences of skipping lunch include

• Your mid-day productivity levels can drop: While lunch often is downplayed by the idea that it needs to be quick, rushed, and jammed into our day, fuel eaten at lunchtime is very crucial for setting us up for a fruitful afternoon. It is important to note that the foods consumed for lunch should be fibre and protein such as whole grain cereals, dals, and salad to maintain satiety levels and prevent post-meal crashes and lethargy.

• There would be a high chance of over-indulging later in the day: If we do not eat the right quantity and quality of food throughout the day, we tend to make up for it later in the day by overdoing it during the evenings. The reason is, that when your body is fasting, the brain releases neurotransmitters which are linked to increased cravings.

• You might lose out on essential nutrients as a result of consuming a lesser number of meals. It is important to provide your body with sufficient calories, carbohydrates, proteins, fibre, vitamins, minerals and water. Eating lunch on time can also reduce the chances of craving sweet, starchy, high-fat, and salty foods.