Cutting down on the calories shouldn’t mean skipping meals, but it can be a struggle to cut down calories during the day.

While it’s tempting for a number of reasons, skipping breakfast is a big no-no because it’s an important meal that breaks your night-time fast and starts your day with a source of energy.

“You may feel like you are cutting down on calories, but, instead, you’re cutting down on important nutrients your body needs, and you are causing more harm than good in the process,” says Daniela Venier, Dietitian from Planet Fitness and Smart Healthcare

1. Energy levels:

A healthy breakfast will provide a source of calories to provide your body with a source of energy in the morning.

2. Prevent cravings:

Skipping breakfast often leads to nibbling during the day, which usually consist of unhealthy snacks. Waiting too long before eating after you wake up can also make you feel peckish and lead to unhealthy meal choices later in the day.

3. Slows metabolism:

Spreading your food intake out over the course of the day helps keep the metabolism working at a healthy rate. Skipping breakfast can slow down your metabolism, which can reduce the amount of calories your body burns during the course of the day.

4. Low sugar levels:

Your body sugar levels drop during the night and skipping breakfast can make blood sugar drop even lower, leaving you sluggish and hungrier.

5. Concentrating becomes harder:

Breakfast helps replenishes your energy levels, so skipping it can lead to an inability to concentrate during the day.

6. Makes exercise harder:

A lack of energy can make exercise feel a lot harder than it actually is.

7. Nutrient deficiency:

Research has revealed that people who skip breakfast tend miss out on important nutrients like calcium and fibre.