Ask JJ: Breakfast or Fast?

Dear JJ: You say to eat a substantial breakfast within one hour of waking up. However, several experts believe intermittent fasting, which usually involves skipping breakfast, is best for fat loss and better health. I'm confused! As intermittent fasting becomes more popular and anti-breakfast studies occasionally surface, haters have more ammunition to skip out on the day's first meal. "Now new findings from two randomized controlled trials are poking holes in our common acceptance of the morning meal as a panacea," writes Anna Almendrala. "[T]aken together, the two studies reveal some holes in the so-called 'most important meal of the day.'" Yet as John Berardi, Ph.D. skillfully argues, breakfast studies are all over the map. Some show benefits, whereas others conclude the day's most important meal perhaps became overrated. "Clearly eating breakfast -- or skipping it -- is not a panacea," he concludes. "Of course, no nutritional solution ever is." Regardless what the latest studies say, I remain adamant about eating a substantial, healthy breakfast within one hour of waking up. For one, breakfast sets your day's metabolic tone. Many people screw it up, starting out with a high-sugar impact disaster that creates a blood sugar roller coaster set to crash about 10:30 a.m., or skipping it altogether and setting the stage for hunger, cravings, and overeating. Two, your body does not store protein. Breakfast literally breaks overnight fasting, and when you don't refuel pr...
Source: Healthy Living - The Huffington Post - Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news