Breakfast Positively Influences General Health And Children’s Early Development

Breakfast lowers the risk of heart disease in adults

In a 16-year study conducted in the US, an assessment was made to find out the relation between breakfast consumption and incidence of coronary or ischemic heart disease. They found that eating breakfast resulted in lowering the risk of heart disease. There was no association between eating frequency and the heart disease. They found an increased risk of ischemic heart disease in men who skipped breakfast and in men who ate late at night. 

Breakfast aids in better development of motor skills in children

This is good news for parents. The kids who do not miss their breakfast develop better motor skills. They also reduce the chances of gaining the excess body weight. Last year’s Swiss study assessed 656 elementary school children aged 7 to 10 years. Their motor activities which included sidewise jumping, tapping, standing long jump, 20-m sprint and shuttle run were recorded. Children eating breakfast regularly had better motor skills and lower body weight than those not taking breakfast regularly.

Regular breakfasts are associated with better academic performance in children and adolescents

It has been proven that breakfast habits are associated with academic performance in children and adolescents. Scientists at the University of Florida analyzed 22 studies on association of breakfast consumption with academic performance in children and adolescents. These children had better memory, test grades and school attendance. This evidence suggests that breakfast consumption may improve the abilities of perception, thinking, reasoning and remembering. They recommended that parents should be encouraged to provide breakfast for their children. They even opted for school breakfast program especially for working parents who were unable to prepare breakfast at home.

Some breakfast suggestions

• Have a larger breakfast and a light dinner. Increase the protein content and reduce carbohydrates and fats.
• Avoid snacking between meals and especially after dinner.
• Eat a well-balanced, fiber rich diet containing fresh fruits and vegetables. Some examples of breakfast include
  • Banana slices in yogurt
  • Oatmeal with fruits like apples, blueberries or peaches
  • Small tortilla with peanut butter and chopped strawberries
  • Berries with milk or yogurt

Breakfast is essentially good and it is proven to benefit all age groups in various health aspects. Centuries-old wisdom praising the benefits of breakfast is now confirmed by modern scientific research.