While we’re taught that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, a meta-analysis found that skipping it doesn’t make a difference in adults. Looking at data from 63 studies that used more than 3,400 people, the researchers found people who had eaten performed 0.2 units better at cognitive tests than people who were fasting.
Researchers pointed out that the brain functions on glucose and stored fat. If a person hasn’t eaten, their blood sugar may dip, but their brain just switches to using the fuel from stored fat. It keeps chugging along at the standard rate. The study found that fasting up to 16 hours didn’t impact attention span, memory or decision making.
None of this is an argument that “hanger” isn’t real. The only time cognition faltered was when food stimuli were used in tasks.
The study concluded that. “Hunger might make us more distracted by food cues, but overall thinking stays steady.”
Dr. David Moreau of the Univ. of Auckland was the lead author of the new report. He said, “Missing a meal doesn’t make you less sharp — it just makes you think more about food.”
Co-author Christoph Bamberg of the Univ. of Salzburg said, “Fasting allows the body to reset, and our brains seem surprisingly well adapted to it.”
Fasting stimulates autophagy that cleans out junk in the body, aids energy production and improves health. It can also boost insulin sensitivity and help the body use sugar effectively. It also appears to reduce the risk of metabolic health concerns.
The researchers stressed that their study applied only to adults. Children require a lot of calories to grow and develop healthily. Fuel at breakfast is important for children, and kids shouldn’t skip the first meal of the day.
Additionally, the researchers stressed that fasting isn’t a good fit for everyone. It may not be suitable for people who have specific dietary needs. As the study only looked at 16 hours of fasting, they said it might not be healthy for people who need to be alert in the afternoon or for people who are surrounded by food cues.
The big takeaway from this study is that the ad isn’t 100 percent correct. A famous candy brand says, “You aren’t you when you’re hungry.” But you are just as focused and mentally sharp as ever. You’re just potentially more irritable or prone to snacking.
