Breakfast actually means “to break the fast.” It is the first meal of the day after a time of not eating overnight.
James Caleb Jackson (1811-1895), a farmer and preacher, was the inventor of the first dry, whole grain breakfast cereal he called ‘granula’. Jackson promoted a near vegetarian diet with the emphasis on fruits, vegetables, and unprocessed grains. His views influenced the Seventh Day Adventist Church.
Jackson held the stance that masturbation was the greatest evil which bland, healthy food could cure. Following this, in 1878, another Seventh Day Adventist, Dr John Harvey Kellog who also held the same beliefs about curing masturbation, produced his own ‘granula’, then changing the name to granola to avoid a lawsuit. This paved the way for breakfast cereal.
The beginning of breakfast was not only based on religion and health but also reverence for hard work. In the early 20th century, the idea was sold that if you ate a lighter, healthier breakfast, you were going to be more efficient and productive at work.
Kellogg’s started advertising breakfast cereals in the early 1900’s, as at that time only 50% of Americans were having breakfast which was mostly eggs and meat. The myth that breakfast is the most important meal was developed from those early days of cereal advertising.
Another historical breakfast marker dates back to the 1960’s where breakfast earned its title as the most important meal of the day when American nutritionist and writer Adelle Davis suggested to keep fit and avoid obesity it was necessary to change our eating rhythm and habits to: “eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a pauper”.
But today we are more aware that the above is not always the way to look at breakfast. Recent research has shown that skipping breakfast can have a lot of benefits as well. Skipping breakfast or any other meal brings in what is called ‘Intermittent Fasting’, literally, not breaking the fast at breakfast time. Something to consider before considering Intermittent Fasting is that this is not for everyone and is always specific to someone’s needs and their body’s requirements at a certain time as this can change.
When recovering from an operation, illness or disease or if we work very physically, are underweight, have low energy and vitality, then most likely we need as many nutrients to rebuild as we can get so skipping any meal may not be the best thing to do.
As usual contact your health practitioner if you have any questions.
So, what is Fasting or Intermittent Fasting?
It is not a diet as it doesn’t tell you what to eat; rather it is a pattern of eating and not eating.
What does science actually say about it?
Risks: Fasting and intermittent fasting with Keto/Paleo is dangerous for your Cardiovascular Health.
Examples for healthy Fasting:
Water fasting or celery juice fasting for max for 3 days – otherwise the weight loss is muscle loss.
Again, with pre-existing health conditions fasting should only be done under supervision of your health practitioner. Easier is Intermittent fasting.
Benefits of Intermittent Fasting (IF)
- Burns Fat
- Increases Growth Hormones (i.e. Anabolic Hormones and act as Fat burners, create Protein Growth, Build Lean Body Mass, Anti-Aging properties, …)
- IF increases GH production by 300 – 2000%)
- Increases Testosterone & Strength
- Speeds up your Metabolism
- Decreases Cortisol (Stress Hormones which breaks down muscles) and Insulin
- Reduces Inflammation Markers
- Does not cause Muscle Loss – maintains Muscle Tissue
- Reserves Protein in the body = Protects the loss of Protein in your body
- Decreases Blood Sugar Levels
- Has an Anti-Aging effect
- Increases Happy Hormones
- Increases Memory & Concentration & ability to focus
- Increases Cardiovascular Health
- Improves Thyroid Function
- Supports the prevention for Cancer, Autoimmune Disease and other chronic disease
- Supports DNA Repair
- Decreases Cravings
- Increases the Survival of Existing neurons and promotes the production of new Neurons in the Brain – linked to Prevention of Parkinson & Alzheimer’s Disease
- Decreases your food budget …
All these effects start from 12 hours onwards and peak around 16 hours – so skipping breakfast or dinner will do it.
Example:
Dinner finishes at 7pm – skipping breakfast – next meal is lunch between 11am and 1pm and then dinner again finishing at 7pm => 16 – 19 hours without food brings all the above benefits.
Intermittent Fasting for Health Benefits is old and has been mentioned in:
Egyptian Pyramid inscription 3800BC by Plato, Paracelsus and Mark Twain …
Cons of fasting and Intermittent Fasting:
- One meal a day can lead to overeating – look at 2 meals a day instead => as 2 meals a day can still give you up to 19 hours intermittent fasting.
- Is harder for women than men due to the fat and hormonal system of women.
- Needs a strong livingness and backed up by all Lifestyle factors.
- Can get your body into survival mode and breakdown – Body markers start shutting down! If that happens you can get seriously ill – Thyroid, Hormone System, Chronic Fatigue …
- Mind kicks in telling you that you are hungry
- Once started it is harder and needs adjusting time for the body to return to 2 – 3 meals
- Can’t be done if dehydrated.
- Not recommended for people with eating disorders.
- Can bring up food attachments.
- You can lose a lot of excess body weight/fat and therefore need to buy lots of new clothes
For more information on Fasting, Intermittent Fasting and Weight Management please consider purchasing our Digestive health webinar:
https://total-health.com.au/webinars-workshops/webinars/weight-management
