What's the best time to eat breakfast according to health experts?

Breakfast is one of the trickiest meals of the day! While age-old beliefs suggest beginning the day with a heavy and hearty breakfast, on the other hand, growing enthusiasm around health and fitness calls for skipping breakfasts with brunches. But is it actually the right way to kick-start the day, and what is the right time to have breakfast? Here’s what experts suggest…

Is breakfast so important?
Breakfast is the first meal of the day after hours of sleep fasting, and this is what makes it the most important meal of the day. However, skipping breakfast may affect energy levels of the body and also increase the risk of metabolic issues and is often associated with a heightened risk of obesity, insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome.

What’s the best time?
Eating breakfast in the morning aligns naturally with the body’s circadian rhythm, which is basically the internal clock that regulates the sleep-wake cycle, hormone release and metabolism. In fact, it helps to digest food and burn calories, as compared to eating at later hours or around noon.



Benefits of eating breakfast early:
Brain Function
Eating breakfast could protect your brain from age-related cognitive decline. According to a study published in a digital daily, it was found that as per a study conducted on more than 850 adults every 18 months. The researchers also looked for signs of neurodegeneration. The results showed that breakfast skippers did not perform as well on the cognitive tests compared to those who ate breakfast. Those who skipped the first meal of the day were also at greater risk of experiencing cognitive decline and signs of neurodegeneration.


Reduces Risk of Cardiovascular ailments
A quality breakfast can also do your heart some good. A clinical trial found that subjects who consumed 20% to 30% of their total calories at breakfast had lower BMIs and smaller waistlines, along with a 9% to 18% reduction in triglyceride levels and a 4% to 8% increase in HDL cholesterol levels as per a report published in the National Health Library.

Managing Weight
In addition to eating a balanced breakfast early in the day and at least 12 hours after your last meal, follow these other habits for successful weight management. Eat a balanced lunch and dinner. At most lunches and dinners, aim to follow the balanced plate framework, making half your plate vegetables, a quarter of your plate whole grains, and a quarter of your plate protein. This helps keep you full and satisfied.