A protein-rich breakfast not only increases the feeling of satiety, which can counteract weight gain, but also significantly improves the ability to concentrate.
A new study by experts at Aarhus University has examined whether eating a breakfast that is high in protein and low in carbohydrates is associated with lower energy intake for the rest of the day. The results are published in the English-language “Journal of Dairy Science”.
Relationship between breakfast and BMI
Previous studies have shown that eating breakfast is associated with a lower body mass index (BMI) compared to people who don’t eat breakfast.
It is also known that foods rich in protein generally have a stronger satiety effect than foods rich in carbohydrates and fats with the same calorie content.
In the new study, the experts examined whether a protein-rich breakfast could lead to greater satiety throughout the day and thus reduce daily calorie intake.
Examined 30 obese women
As part of the study, a total of 30 women with obesity were medically monitored over a period of three days. The participants were between 18 and 30 years old. They were instructed to eat either a high-protein breakfast, a high-carbohydrate breakfast, or no breakfast at all, the team reports.
At lunchtime, the researchers measured satiety, hormone levels and energy intake. In addition, the women’s total daily energy intake was determined and the participants also completed a cognitive concentration test during the course of the study.
Greater satiety and ability to concentrate
“We found that a high-protein breakfast with Skyr (a soured milk product) and oats increased participants’ satiety and ability to concentrate, but did not reduce total energy intake compared to skipping breakfast or eating a high-carbohydrate breakfast,” said study author Mette Hansen in a press release.
“The results confirm that high-protein meals increase satiety, which is positive in terms of preventing weight gain. “But the results also indicate that just eating a protein-rich breakfast is not enough for this nutritional strategy to be effective,” adds Hansen.
However, consuming a protein-rich diet instead of a carbohydrate-rich diet has great potential for preventing weight gain, and it is quite surprising that two different meals with the same calorie content can have such different effects on satiety.
Presumably, on a day on which the participants ate a high-carbohydrate breakfast, they would have subsequently eaten a larger meal and therefore more calories than after eating a high-protein breakfast with skyr and oats – if they had been given the choice in the study.
Overall, the research team believes the study provides important insights, but it also has its limitations, as only relatively few obese young women were examined over a very short period of time. There is a need for further research to determine the health effects of different breakfast compositions. (as)
