Men who skip breakfast are more likely to develop diabetes, say researchers at Harvard School of Public Medicine in the United States.
A new study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition has exposed a link between missing meals and an increased chance of contracting diet-related disease type 2 diabetes.
According to the study, men who walk out the door on an empty stomach are 20% more likely to develop diabetes, than those who eat a meal first thing.
However, men need to consider not only ‘when’ but ‘what’ they eat, say healthy living experts.
Iain Frame, director of research at Diabetes UK, tells Diabetes.co.uk: "While it is intuitive that eating three healthy balanced meals a day is good for your health, in this study it is not clear what is meant by breakfast or what it consists of."
The charity recommend individuals eat a healthy balanced diet, rich in fruit and vegetables and low in sugar, salt and fat, which applies to breakfast and all other main meals.
Strange Breakfasts From Around The Globe
Bizarre Breakfasts From Around The World(01 of10)
Open Image Modal (credit:Alamy)
China: Century Eggs(02 of10)
Open Image ModalHow do you like your eggs in the morning? The Chinese like theirs wrapped in a mixture of clay, salt, ash, lime, and rice. The result? The yolk turns green, and the egg white is almost black and the texture is creamy and gelatinous with a pungent odour. (credit:Flickr:TummyRumble)
Japan: Chawan Mushi(03 of10)
Open Image ModalJapanese wake up to a bowl of steamed eggs and dashi seasoning giving it a silky, custard-like texture. These are topped with shiitake mushrooms with added chicken or kamaboko (a mixture of cured white fish and starch). (credit:Flickr:cchen)
Mexico: Huitlacoche (04 of10)
Open Image ModalThese odd-looking corns are a regular food served on Mexican breakfast tables in omelettes. This corn with a twist is technically 'diseased' corn (yes, really) and the fungus that grows from it is considered a delicacy among Mexican breakfast eaters. Spores infect the corn, turning it black and giving it a mushroom-like flavour. (credit:Flickr:frankenstoen)
Korea: Kimichi (05 of10)
Open Image ModalKoreans wake up to this potent dish of fermented vegetables, with an added kick of garlic, red peppers and ginger. (credit:Flickr:Lori_NY)
Iceland: Hafragrautur(06 of10)
Open Image ModalHafragrautur, or oatmeal, has been a staple in the diet of Icelandic families for many years. Oats and water or milk are mixed in a pot and left to simmer. Hafragrautur is usually served with a sprinkle of brown sugar, or occasionally a handful of raisins or a pat of butter.
USA: Scrapple(07 of10)
Open Image ModalMeat-loving Americans enjoy scrapple for breakfast, which is made from parts of a pig that is left-over from dinner. The meat is boiled, minced, seasoned and molded into the shape of a loaf. It's then fried and eaten with eggs or pancakes. l. (credit:Flickr:Accidental Hedonist)
Hong Kong: Crab Porridge (08 of10)
Open Image ModalCongee is a porridge made by slow cooking rice for an extended period of time, until it takes on a thick, creamy texture. Eat like those in Hong Kong and chuck a boiled crab in for good measure, either the whole crab, or a cooked claw. (credit:Flickr)
Pakistan: Siri Paya(09 of10)
Open Image ModalIn Pakistan, this soup is dished up at breakfast time but it's not for the faint-hearted. Siri means head and paya means feet, so you might be able to guess what the main ingredients are in the soup. The Siri soup is made from a slow-cooked cow, lamb or goats head and feet. (credit:Flickr)
Jamaica: Ackee (10 of10)
Open Image ModalJamaicans feast on a plate full of ackee fruit (which resembled scrambled eggs) and white fish. Although this seems like an innocent breakfast, the ackee is actually poisonous if not prepared correctly. (credit:Flickr:dugsong)