Starting the day with a high-protein breakfast-such as sausages and eggs-helps women maintain blood sugar (glucose) levels throughout the day, and may even prevent diabetes.
Women who ate a high-protein breakfast achieved a stable level of glucose and insulin-a hormone that helps break down glucose-without suffering sudden ‘energy crashes’ or sugar cravings later in the day.
Glucose levels can rise dramatically after eating processed foods, which include artificial sugars, and which, in turn, release higher levels of insulin. Eventually, this cycle can lead to type 2 diabetes as the body becomes less able to cope with sudden glucose rushes.
But researchers from the University of Missouri-Columbia reckon these highs and lows can be avoided by eating a high-protein breakfast. To test the theory, they monitored a group of women who were given different breakfasts, ranging from pancakes that had just three grams of protein to sausages and eggs with 39 grams of protein.
The average American woman eats just 10 to 15 grams of protein for breakfast each day, say the researchers.
(Source: University of Missouri-Columbia)
