Ladies, you should never skip breakfast.
Breaking the Breakfast Myth
Many women skip breakfast, thinking it will help with weight loss or because they’re just not hungry in the morning (or even worse…making an ICED coffee *screams in horror* their breakfast). But did you know that skipping breakfast can actually lead to weight gain, hormonal imbalances, and higher stress levels?
Skipping breakfast is stressing you out, dear.
Cortisol is Highest in the Morning…
Cortisol, the body’s main stress hormone, follows a circadian rhythm and peaks in the morning. Eating breakfast first thing in the morning (after you’ve had tea/warm water first of course) helps lower cortisol naturally by signaling the body that food is available and stress is low. Eating breakfast literally makes your body feel safe (how can you pass that up? literal self care). however, when you skip breakfast, cortisol stays high, keeping the body in a state of stress and promoting fat storage mode—especially around the belly (I thought you wanted abs for summer?). High cortisol levels increase insulin resistance, making it harder for your body to process carbs efficiently. This leads to blood sugar crashes, cravings for sweets, and overeating later in the day through those pesky little demon cravings. In the long-term, this can contribute to belly fat, PCOS, and metabolic issues. And cortisol isn’t the only hormone you have to worry about when you are skipping breakfast. Ghrelin (the hunger hormone) rises when you skip meals which makes you more likely to binge later and leptin (the satiety hormone) gets thrown off, making it harder to feel full.
And there goes the cycle of overeating, energy crashes, and sugar cravings.
Your Digestion is Like a Car -
You need to heat it up in the morning before you start driving.
We have something called the digestive fire (or the agni). In TCM this is known as the "yang energy" of the Spleen and Stomach. It’s the body's internal warmth that powers digestion, transforms food into Qi (vital energy) and nutrients, and prevents slow metabolism. The morning is when the digestive fire is strongest and can properly transform food into Qi. However, if you skip breakfast you weaken the Spleen, leading to poor digestion, fluid retention, and slow metabolism. If the Spleen is weak, food isn’t processed properly and this leads to bloating, slow metabolism, phlegm, brain fog, + stubborn weight gain. Skipping meals can also stress the Liver which can manifest as mood swings, irritability, PMS, emotional eating, sugar cravings, feeling stuck, etc.
The Best Breakfasts for Women’s Hormones & Metabolism
Okay so now that you know you shouldn’t skip breakfast, let’s talk about what you should have (because a coffee will not cut it!). Instead of skipping breakfast, we want to opt for foods that are warming, nourishing, and protein-rich.
In
Oatmeal with almond butter & cinnamon (add flaxseeds for hormonal health) → Stabilizes blood sugar + boosts digestion (cinnamon is also good for abundance + protecting against evil eye)
Eggs with avocado & whole grain toast (add steak for my personal fave meal) → Hormone-balancing protein + healthy fats
Greek yogurt with nuts & berries → Supports gut health + prevents cravings
Bone Broth with rice & soft-boiled egg → Protein rich + great for digestion + fertility
Out
Coffee on an empty stomach (spikes cortisol)
Cold/raw foods (weaken digestion) ((so be mindful of smoothies - instead have it after you’ve had warm tea + have it closer to noon when our digestive fire is the strongest))
Refined sugar (causes insulin crashes)
Fasting!
Nourish Your Body, Don’t Stress It
Skipping breakfast may seem harmless or the perfect way to lose weight, but it actually puts your body in stress mode, slows metabolism, and throws off hormones. But by eating a nourishing, balanced breakfast, you’ll:
Lower cortisol + reduce stress
Support healthy digestion + metabolism
Prevent cravings + overeating later
Feel more energized + emotionally balanced
So, ladies, don’t skip breakfast! Your body (and hormones) ((and Indy)) will thank you.
Want to know what I like to do to wind down at night for better sleep or what teas I like to start my day with (to pair with breakfast)? Scroll down to my Instagram!