Five foods to avoid in the morning

Breakfast is touted as the most important meal of the day because it kick-starts your metabolism and gives you the energy to run for most of the day.

However, the wrong choice of meal could leave you feeling hungry shortly after eating, uncomfortably full, or affect your oral health and dental hygiene.

The Principle Dentist of Harley Private Dentist Clinic told Yahoo News, “It’s important to avoid certain foods that can have negative effects on your teeth, especially first thing in the morning when your mouth’s natural defenses are lower, due to decreased saliva production during sleep.”

See below to know the foods to avoid during breakfast:

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1. Sugary or highly refined cereals: While sugary or other highly refined cereals may be alright as a once-in-a-while treat, they are not the best everyday breakfast option. According to an online portal, Healthline, most sugary cereals won’t sustain you for long, as they are typically full of sugar and low in protein, meaning that they’ll rapidly increase your blood sugar levels. This can lead to irritability and hunger once the blood-sugar-reducing hormone insulin takes effect.

2. Fruit juice: Citrus fruits, like oranges, lemons, and grapefruit should be avoided in the morning, as their high acidity levels can cause tooth damage. Also, fruit juice is high in sugar and low in the fibre found in whole fruits is not quite filling.

3. Coffee: For some people, a cup of coffee is the first thing they take in the morning. But dentists and wellness experts recommend avoiding coffee too early in the morning. This is mainly due to coffee’s “dual impact of acidity and potential staining. It can gradually erode tooth enamel over time, particularly when consumed on an empty stomach when saliva production is lower,” Dr Azizi told Yahoo News.

4. Yogurt: Yogurt is a good source of protein and probiotics. However, many types of yogurt are loaded with added sugar, making them less healthy choices. Healthline recommends that for a healthier alternative, try full-fat, unsweetened Greek yogurt. It’s higher in protein than other varieties, and you can easily sweeten it yourself to taste.

5. Processed meats: All common breakfast meats are highly processed and are loaded with salt, which may increase blood pressure in salt-sensitive individuals. They also contain other additives like nitrites, which may increase your risk of certain cancers like stomach cancer. While experts say more research is needed to fully understand how processed meat intake affects cancer risk, it is better to reduce your intake of processed meats to help lower your risk.