It might exacerbate existing stress

The same mouse study found that going without breakfast elicited a stress response in the brains of the hungry mice. If you’re the kind of person who gets hangry after a few hours of not eating, you might relate. Additionally, a 2018 study of teenagers showed that those who ate a good breakfast experienced lower levels of stress and depression than those who ate a poor-quality meal in the morning.

“Intermittent fasting using methods such as skipping breakfast can increase levels of the stress hormone, cortisol,” agrees health coach Sarah Elisabeth. “If you’re already stressed (which the majority of us are due to the demands of day-to-day life), skipping breakfast is only going to perpetuate the problem.”

Hope believes that a protein-rich breakfast can help to regulate that cortisol production, giving us a better chance of staying calm throughout the morning. “Foods with protein such as eggs, fibre-rich oats or a smoothie packed with vegetables and seeds, will set you up well for the day ahead,” she advises. “Eating a decent breakfast will boost your energy levels and leave the body better able to fight stress.”

Keep catching colds? Skipping breakfast might be lowering your immunity