IS BREAKFAST THE MISSING LINK?

By Jackie Guzmán

So who doesn’t skip breakfast? For those who want to curb excess pound, an eating lifestyle that includes breakfast may be a good start. Now there’s a reason to stop and taste at least some coffee in the mornings.

Men’s Health magazine showed in a recent article that people who have a morning meal consume fewer calories during the rest of the day. Thirty percent of breakfast eaters are less likely to be overweight.

On the other hand, people who skip breakfast are more likely to drink alcohol, smoke and exercise less.

Hispanics and other ethnic populations appear to have a higher than average incident of weight and obesity issues, which can be a good reason to pay attention to how and what nutrients are taken in.

Although breakfast is the most important meal of the day, many people fall into the habit of consuming up to 1,500 calories during the morning meal. That is over 75% of their total recommended daily calories.

To make things worse, many popular establishments overload the morning fare with unhealthy fats, added sugars, and products with high carbohydrates, which help us to put on unwanted, needless weight.

A healthy lifestyle change really matters because of a Hispanic propensity through genetic and unhelpful habits leading to diabetes, cholesterol-accumulation and blood-pressure problems, especially when complemented with a sedentary lifestyle and family history of those diseases.

The American Obesity Association (AOA) claims diabetes occurs at a rate of 16% to 26% among Hispanic Americans compared with 12% in non-Hispanics. Obesity also is a risk factor for heart problems, especially when Hispanics reach their senior years.

Men’s Health researchers investigated what is the worst food in America. As a result they found some of the worst breakfasts in the country are The Breakfast Deluxe from McDonalds, with 1,360 calories and 22 g. of saturated fat, outdone by the IHOP Big Steak Omelet with 1,490 calories.

The magazine also reported the worst hot coffee. From a calorie standpoint, Starbucks’ Venti 2% Peppermint White Chocolate Mocha is tops, with 660 calories and 14g. of saturated fat. The worst soda is Sunkist with 190 calories. The magazine awarded Baskin-Robbins’s Large Heath Bar Shake the dubious honor as the worst drink in America with a total of 2,310 calories with 64g of saturated fat.

Although it’s not exactly a cause and effect relationship, AOA makes the association between these confections and menu choices that can turn eating into an unhealthy episode for many Hispanics and African Americans, who tend to experience more overweight and excessive body fat, compared with Whites.

The organization Just Run reported that Hispanic adults have a nearly 37% obesity rate compared to almost 30% for Whites.

Since time is at a premium in most people’s lifestyles (or so they believe) and motivation can become a major obstacle, eating a nutritious breakfast consistently, helps to stop cravings later in the day.

“A key to breaking the cycle [of obesity] is Latino family activity. Eating a balanced healthy breakfast—considered the most important meal of the day—and incorporating a fun activity can help jump-start families to healthier life styles,” said Dr. Aliza Lifshitz, expert on community health.

Margo G. Wootan, nutrition policy director at Center for Science in the Public Interest said that, “Most Americans get a third of their calories from eating out. And, unfortunately restaurant foods play a very problematic role in our diets.”

The issue has become so important, that in California Gov. Arnold Shwarzenegger recently approved a new bill requiring chain restaurants to put calorie counts on their menus. Across the country, cities like New York, Seattle and San Francisco have approved similar legislations.