The Importance of Breakfast is well known to everyone, so I won't repeat it here. However, do you know what diseases you may develop if you skip breakfast for a long time? Traditional Chinese medicine reminds us of the following:
Diseases Caused by Skipping Breakfast
1. Gallstones
Many people know that skipping breakfast can easily lead to gallstones. This is because from dinner to the next morning's breakfast, the gallbladder has rested for about 8-10 hours, and the storage of bile has reached a certain level. Eating breakfast can stimulate the intestinal mucosa, and the duodenum can secrete cholecystokinin, which causes the gallbladder to contract and bile to be promptly discharged into the intestines, aiding digestion. If bile cannot be discharged in time, stasis or increased concentration can occur, which easily leads to the formation of gallstones.
2. High Cholesterol and Digestive Diseases
People who skip breakfast have 33% higher cholesterol levels compared to those who eat breakfast. All children with high cholesterol have fat streaks in their blood vessels, which are early signs of atherosclerosis. Generally, the dinner from the previous day empties from the stomach to the intestines within 6 hours. If breakfast is not consumed in a timely manner the next day, gastric acid and various digestive enzymes will digest the gastric mucosal layer, which can easily lead to gastric ulcers and duodenal ulcers in the long run.
3. Constipation
Regular meal times promote the gastrocolic reflex in the body, facilitating the elimination of waste. If breakfast is skipped, this reflex is disrupted and constipation can occur.
4. Weight Gain, Irregular Menstruation, and Damage to Reproductive Health
Some people who are trying to lose weight think that skipping one meal, such as breakfast, will reduce a significant amount of calories. However, this is not true. Skipping breakfast is not only ineffective for weight loss, but it can also lead to irregular menstruation and harm reproductive health. Insufficient energy in the body causes vasoconstriction in the female pelvic area, leading to ovarian dysfunction, irregular menstruation, and even amenorrhea. Therefore, breakfast is the meal that is least likely to be converted into fat throughout the day, so it should not only be eaten but also eaten well!
5. Increased Risk of Heart Disease
Researchers at Harvard University in the United States have found that skipping breakfast can cause "additional stress and tension" on the body. If men skip breakfast, the likelihood of developing heart disease or other heart conditions increases by 27%.
Recommended Traditional Chinese Medicine Breakfast Foods
1. Whole Wheat Bread
Many people choose bread as their breakfast, and the healthiest choice is whole wheat bread. Whole wheat bread is characterized by its slightly brown color, visible wheat bran particles, rough texture, and fragrance. It has higher nutritional value than white bread and contains abundant dietary fiber, vitamin E, as well as minerals such as zinc and potassium, which are beneficial to the body.
2. Eggs
Eggs have been rated as "the most nutritious breakfast" by a magazine in the United States. The antioxidant content of one egg yolk is equivalent to that of an apple.
3. Strawberries
Strawberries are rich in nutrients such as fructose, sucrose, citric acid, malic acid, salicylic acid, amino acids, calcium, phosphorus, iron, and various vitamins. They especially contain a high amount of vitamin C, with 60 milligrams of vitamin C per 100 grams of strawberries. Strawberries can activate cells and have a nourishing effect on the gastrointestinal tract.
4. Cooked Meat
It is well known that meat provides high-quality protein and high-energy fats, as well as certain vitamins and minerals, all of which are essential for our health, growth, intellectual development, and physical endurance. Eating a piece of meat for breakfast also helps with energy consumption in the morning and keeps you energized.
5. Bananas
In a busy life, people often neglect the nutritional value of breakfast and eat casually. If you want a healthy breakfast without any hassle, why not eat a banana? Bananas contain almost all vitamins and minerals, making it easy to obtain a variety of nutrients.
