48 percent of young Irish adults (aged 18 – 34) are skipping breakfast
It’s a well known fact that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, yet a study carried out by Centrum Multivitamins, which looks at the diets of Irish people, has revealed that almost half (48%) of young Irish adults skip breakfast on a regular basis yet three quarters (74%) believe their diet is good, very good or excellent.
Countless studies highlight the benefits associated with starting the day with a healthy breakfast in managing weight, improving concentration and general well being. Breakfast essentially breaks the eight hour fast after sleep, providing the body with much needed energy and nutrients.
The research also shows that over half (56%) of Irish women diet at least once per year, however, health and nutrition expert, Sarah Keogh is clear that eating breakfast can assist in weight loss by speeding up metabolism thus burning more calories.
‘There is a common misconception amongst people young and old that in order to lose weight you need to cut out meals or food groups. On the contrary, a balanced diet is essential in shifting excess weight and ensuring it stays off. Not only does a healthy breakfast speed up your metabolism but it also gives you more energy, meaning you can do more exercise,’ said Sarah.
Sarah also revealed that International research studies highlight how difficult it is to replenish your diet with the necessary vitamins and minerals throughout the day if you cut out your breakfast.
72% of people are not getting their recommended allowance of fruit and vegetables
The Centrum research highlights that almost three-quarters of the population (72%) aren’t getting their recommended daily allowance of fruit and vegetables, yet 46% of men never take multi-vitamins as they feel that they are getting all the relevant vitamins and minerals from their diet. Sarah believes that Irish people think that they are healthier than they are and hence why they don’t supplement their diet with vitamins and minerals.
David O’Moore, Head of Pfizer Consumer Healthcare, which markets Centrum, comments: ‘The research is a real wake-up call to everyone, particularly young men and women. It is important to maintain a balanced diet, starting with breakfast. A multivitamin is a really good idea if you’re not sure your diet contains all the vitamins and minerals you need.’
For a healthy diet and lifestyle, Sarah recommends incorporating more fruit and vegetables into your diet, along with a multivitamin which has nutrients to help support immunity and to unlock energy from food for vitality:
1. The EPIC study highlights that adding one serving of fruit or vegetables could reduce your risk of all diseases by 20%. The same survey details that by introducing a second piece of fruit or serving of vegetables into your diet, you reduce your risk by 50%. Easy ways of getting more fruit and vegetables in your diet is to include fruit smoothies, dried fruit as snacks, always adding salad to sandwiches and using frozen vegetables when you’re in a hurry.
3. According to the Irish National Teen Food Survey, 72% of Irish girls aren’t getting sufficient iron, putting them at risk of anaemia which can result in fatigue and a lack of energy to exercise.
4. The Centrum survey highlights that 56% of Irish people aren’t eating enough dairy products and according to Sarah this may contribute to the development of osteoporosis. Easy ways to incorporate more dairy into your daily diet include a latte or cappuccino; making porridge with milk, adding yoghurt to a smoothie and having a glass of milk with meals.
5. Protein foods are the main sources of minerals in the diet – nutrients like iron, zinc, and selenium are found in foods like fish, beans and nuts. With over 70% of adults not getting their daily servings of protein, this raises concerns for their other nutrients.
6. Vitamin D is not found in the diet in large amounts – only salmon, eggs and fortified foods such as milk and breakfast cereal contain vitamin D and you would need to eat 14 servings of salmon a week to get your necessary vitamin D.
Centrum has antioxidants to help support immunity and nutrients to unlock energy from food for vitality