Regular breakfast lowers heart disease, obesity risk —Expert

The Vice President of the Nutrition Society of Nigeria and lecturer of Biochemistry at the Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Dr. Bartholomew Brai, has enjoined members of the public to take breakfast regularly as it lowers the risk of cardiac related diseases and maintains healthy body weight.
He made the statement on Monday during the launch of new Nestle Milo beverage termed Milo Active-Go at the Ilupeju head office, Lagos.


Speaking on the importance of breakfast to healthy living at the event, Dr Brai, identified the neglect of breakfast as a contrary practice of weight loss. He pointed out that the high rate of obesity, malnutrition, and heart diseases prevalent in the society are some of the scientifically proven dangers of skipping breakfast.
Brai said, “Breakfast is the first and most important meal of the day. It supplies the energy needed to kick start the body’s metabolism after the night’s fast. And studies have shown that regular breakfast eaters have higher chances of maintaining health body weight and lowering the risk of cardiac and other related diseases.
“When breakfast is skipped, one is likely to eat more during the day in order to recover the lost energy and this can lead to overweight and obesity. However, taking breakfast regularly reduces the chances of nibbling junk food, which in turn reduces the intake of cholesterol and other calorie earning food. Thereby preventing excess weight gain, heart diseases and protruding stomach especially in men.”  
He encouraged breakfast eaters to include all food groups especially fibre related carbohydrate, beverages, protein, fats and fruits in their daily meal and to eat within three hours of waking up as energy derived from a balanced breakfast also improves physical activities, memory retention and performance in both children and adults.
“Breakfast should not be skipped. It should be the richest meal of day. Let your breakfast be nutrient dense. A good balance of minerals and vitamins in your breakfast will improve better performance and memory retention in children and adult. Therefore, eat like a king in the morning, like a prince in the afternoon and like a pauper at night,” he said.  
Speaking also during the launch, the Category Manager, Beverages of Nestle Nigeria Plc, Mr Olufemi Akintola, said the newly reformulated Milo Active-Go beverage is “fortified with protomalt, a malt extract, and a combination of nine micro-nutrients including six vitamins and three minerals for energy release, muscle function and bone maintenance, which are essential for physical activity in children”.