Skipping breakfast hardens the arteries

According to latest research, skipping breakfast is associated with an increased risk of atherosclerosis, or the hardening and narrowing of arteries due to a build-up of plaque. Eating a healthy breakfast makes heart healthy, improves healthier weight and cholesterol while skipping breakfast can increase the risk of coronary heart disease.

 Researchers examined male and female volunteers who were free from cardiovascular or chronic kidney disease. A computerized questionnaire was used to estimate the usual diet of the participants, and breakfast patterns were based on the percentage of total daily energy intake consumed at breakfast.

Some participants consumed less than five percent of their total energy intake in the morning- skipped breakfast and only had coffee, juice or other non-alcoholic beverages); some consumed more than 20 percent of their total energy intake in the morning (breakfast consumers); and those consuming between five and 20 percent (low-energy breakfast consumers).

Atherosclerosis was observed more frequently among participants who skipped breakfast and was also higher in participants who consumed low-energy breakfasts compared to breakfast consumers.

Cardiometabolic risk markers were more prevalent in those who skipped breakfast and low-energy breakfast consumers compared to breakfast consumers. Participants who skipped breakfast had the greatest waist circumference, body mass index, blood pressure, blood lipids and fasting glucose levels.

Participants who skipped breakfast were more likely to have an overall unhealthy lifestyle, including poor overall diet, frequent alcohol consumption and smoking. They may be hypertensive and obese. Breakfast skippers are generally attempting to lose weight, they often eat more unhealthy foods. Skipping breakfast can cause hormonal imbalances and alter circadian rhythms.
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Link between immune systems and drinking behaviour

Alcohol is the world's most commonly consumed drug, human body's circadian rhythms affect the reward signals we receive in the brain from drug-related behaviour, and the peak time for this reward occurs in the evening.

There is a link between the brain's immune system and the desire to drink alcohol in the evening. Researchers were able to switch off the impulse to drink alcohol in mice by giving them a drug that blocks a specific response from the immune system in the brain.

The researchers focused their attention on the immune receptor Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4). They administered the drug (+)-Naltrexone, which is known to block TLR4, to mice. Naltrexo is used to reduce the amount and frequency of drinking.

They discovered reduction in alcohol drinking behaviour in mice that had been given (+)-Naltrexone, specifically at night when the reward for drug-related behaviour is high. Blocking a specific part of the brain's immune system substantially decrease the motivation of mice to drink alcohol in the evening.
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