Eating a protein-rich breakfast reduces daily hunger, increases daily fullness, improves morning blood sugar control, and, perhaps most importantly, leads to less, latter-day snacking thus reducing calories from fat and sugar.
April 22/Des Moines, Iowa/PRNewswire -- A 12-week study presented at Experimental Biology from researchers at the University of Missouri suggests that eating a protein-rich breakfast – one that includes lean ham or pork sausage – reduces daily hunger, increases daily fullness, improves morning blood sugar control, and, perhaps most importantly, leads to less, latter-day snacking thus reducing calories from fat and sugar.
"Nutritionists always tout the importance of breakfast, but now we understand just how powerful choosing to eat lean protein, like pork sausage or ham, at breakfast can be for teen breakfast skippers in particular," said study lead Dr. Heather Leidy, assistant professor in the Department of Nutrition & Exercise Physiology at the University of Missouri. "Based on this research, taking the time each morning to eat a healthy breakfast -- one consisting of about 40% of calories from carbohydrates and 40% of calories from protein -- leads to reduced snacking later in the day thanks to the satiating effects of protein early in the day."