A top gastroenterologist has named and shamed five breakfast favourites, urging us to rethink our morning routines.
Despite breakfast being labelled the “most important meal of the day,” some choices could be causing more harm than good, warns Dr Saurabh Sethi. With a whopping 476,000 followers on TikTok, his advice is creating ripples among breakfast enthusiasts.
Although some people regularly skip breakfast, one in four, according to the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Dr Sethi insists that it’s not just about when you eat but what you eat. Here are the offenders he’s flagged:
Bacon
Dr Sethi brands bacon a baddie due to its processed nature, unhealthy fats, and nitrates. The World Health Organisation even categorised bacon as a carcinogen back in 2015, highlighting the cancer risks associated with processed meats.
Cooking it at high temps? That’s a recipe for producing cancer-causing chemicals, he warns.
Cereal
Sugar overload is the criticism levelled at many cereals on today’s supermarket shelves.
Dr Sethi suggests you think twice before pouring that bowl of sugary goodness, as breakfast cereals often come loaded with more than meets the eye.
Granola
Granola, often seen as a healthier choice, doesn’t escape his critique. Behind its wholesome facade lurk high levels of sugar and unhealthy fats.
Nutritionist Courtney Smith agrees, calling it a deceptive “good food” that contains sneaky unwanted ingredients.
Pancakes
Before you stack them high and slather on the syrup, consider Dr Sethi’s advice: steer clear of pancakes or, at the very least, opt for a healthier version.
A diabetes patient shared a recipe using almond flour, packing twice the protein and four times the fibre without sending blood sugar through the roof.
Donuts
There’s a final punch for donut lovers. Dubbed one of the worst breakfast choices, donuts can skyrocket blood sugar levels, placing them in the ultra-processed food (UPF) hall of shame: a category linked to a host of health issues, including cancer and heart disease.
While some breakfast staples are getting the boot, there’s still hope for healthier choices on our plates. Alongside these warnings, other experts tout drinks and foods that can boost liver and digestive health.
It seems our breakfast habits could do with a shake-up, all in pursuit of a healthier start to the day.
The story Breaking fast or breaking gut? Doctor slams 5 breakfast favourites as seen on Thaiger News.
