I don’t know how many times I’ve heard “breakfast is the most important meal of the day” from Fordo. The thought has always crossed my mind – Why? I’m sure it’s crossed some of yours too. So why is eating breakfast so important? 

A study made by the Better Health Channel proves that children and teens who eat breakfast every day perform better academically and mentally. I wanted to use this study and evaluate the student eating habits to see how often people eat breakfast here at Holderness. From my study, I concluded that only 30% percent of Holderness students eat breakfast more than three times a week and 38% never eat breakfast. 

Back to the question: Why is eating breakfast so important? It does, in fact, impact your ability to learn, but there is science as to why that is. Your body breaks down glycogen, which is then absorbed by carbohydrates that you eat. Your body stores the energy made in mostly fat but is also turned into glycogen, which is then used in small amounts in your liver and muscles. 

Overnight your liver slowly breaks down glycogen, which releases it into your bloodstream. Having a stable amount of glucose is what keeps your blood sugar levels at the right level.  If your blood sugar is imbalanced, it has an effect on how your brain functions, which makes an especially big impact on students. To maintain a steady glucose level, eating the right amount of carbohydrates in each meal is crucial. 

It’s important to recognize the difference between empty carbohydrates and complex carbohydrates. An empty carbohydrate includes foods such as bagels, sugary cereal, and donuts. These types of carbohydrates will not keep you energized. It will most likely cause a spike in your glucose levels and leave you feeling sluggish. On the other hand, a complex carbohydrate will keep you energized and provide you with the daily nutrients you need. These complex carbohydrates can include whole-grain toast, oatmeal, and chocolate milk.

When you wake up every morning, whether it’s at home or in your dorm room, your glycogen levels are at their lowest point of the day. When your glycogen level is emptied, your body then starts to break down fatty acids to use as energy. But, without glucose, the fatty acids aren’t fully oxidized causing your energy to drop. Eating breakfast is literally used to break the fast formed overnight.

This is why eating breakfast is a vital part of the day – not only to better your academics, better mental health and keep you energized but to also make Fordo smile.