You might think your morning routine is perfectly healthy, but there's one common habit that could be quietly pushing your cholesterol levels up over time.
Research consistently links missing that first meal of the day with elevated cholesterol, even when people end up losing a bit of weight as a result.
High cholesterol remains a complex health concern in the UK, shaped by both lifestyle choices and genetics. It also rarely produces warning signs.
The main problem with skipping the first meal of the day boils down to your circadian rhythm, the body's internal clock.
TRENDING
Stories
Videos
Your Say
Skipping the first meal of the day can disrupt the body's circadian rhythm
|GETTY
Your body's internal clock controls lipid metabolism among many other functions, and disrupting this cycle alters the genes and enzymes responsible for regulating your cholesterol levels.
"Without that morning meal, the liver's HMG-CoA reductase enzyme, which controls the rate of cholesterol production, becomes more active, producing more LDL and total cholesterol," Michelle Routhenstein, M.S., RD, CDCES, CDN, told EatingWell.
Eating breakfast can help prevent those cholesterol spikes that naturally occur when you wake up, however.
"Normally, cholesterol synthesis peaks in the early morning, but eating breakfast provides nutrients that help buffer this process," said Routhenstein.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
LDL is considered the 'bad' cholesterol because it narrows your arteries and forces your cardiovascular system to work harder.
And when it comes to managing this type of cholesterol, what you eat matters enormously, according to Dr Hope Barkoukis.
She told GB News: "Foods that are detrimental to CVD health include all fried foods; fast foods; purchased desserts and all types of highly processed deli meats like hot dogs and salami."
"By contrast, pro heart-healthy foods include all plant food sources, especially ones with dietary fibre," she explained.
Dietary fibre is the part of plants our bodies can't digest, and a particular type called soluble fibre works brilliantly for cholesterol management.
Soluble fibre binds to the cholesterol you consume through your diet, preventing it from being absorbed - meaning your body simply gets rid of it.
Eating oats and fruit for breakfast benefits heart health
|GETTY
This is precisely why oats, all types of legumes, vegetables like okra, and fruits such as pears and raspberries are so beneficial for your heart.
But Dr Barkoukis emphasises that looking after your heart goes beyond just watching cholesterol levels.
"Also, it's important to understand that heart health isn't just about watching which foods impact cholesterol. It's about thinking total heart health," she explained.
Omega-3 fats found in fatty fish are essential for reducing inflammation, improving blood pressure, lowering the risk of blood clots, and bringing down triglyceride levels in your blood.
Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter