Breakfast

From WikiMD.com Medical Encyclopedia

Breakfast is traditionally defined as the first meal of the day, typically consumed in the morning after a period of overnight fasting. The term originates from the act of "breaking the fast" of the previous night. Breakfast is considered an essential meal in many cultures, often associated with improved concentration, metabolism, and overall health.

Breakfast at the Black Bear Diner
Medieval baker
Café na fazenda
A traditional family breakfast in the Isan, Thailand
Traditional Levantine Breakfast with a Variety of Local Delights

Etymology[edit | edit source]

The word "breakfast" comes from the late Middle English terms breken (to break) and fast (a period of not eating). Thus, breakfast literally means to break the fasting period of the prior night.

Cultural Variations[edit | edit source]

Breakfast customs vary widely across cultures:

Typical Breakfast Foods[edit | edit source]

Common breakfast items include:

Nutritional Importance[edit | edit source]

Studies suggest that consuming breakfast:

However, some individuals follow intermittent fasting routines that skip breakfast, a practice subject to ongoing nutritional research.

Breakfast Skipping and Health[edit | edit source]

Skipping breakfast has been linked to:

Breakfast as a Verb[edit | edit source]

The term breakfast is also used as a verb: "to breakfast" means to eat breakfast, e.g., "They breakfasted at 8 a.m."

Global Breakfast Trends[edit | edit source]

Urbanization and lifestyle changes have led to more on-the-go breakfast choices like:

Gallery[edit | edit source]

Glossary of Breakfast Terms[edit | edit source]

Below is a comprehensive glossary of terms commonly associated with breakfast, including foods, beverages, utensils, and other related terminology.

See Also[edit | edit source]

Nutrition information of Breakfast[edit source]


WikiMD
Navigation: Wellness - Encyclopedia - Health topics - Disease Index‏‎ - Drugs - World Directory - Gray's Anatomy - Keto diet - Recipes

Search WikiMD

Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD

WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia

Let Food Be Thy Medicine
Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates

Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates, categories Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.

Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD