Can Exercise Replace Your Breakfast?

In this article, I want to explore an intriguing idea: "Can exercise or physical activity substitute for our breakfast?"

Conventionally, breakfast is considered the most important meal of the day, with sayings like "eat breakfast like a king." I recently read a news article claiming that skipping breakfast could increase the risk of a heart attack.

In today’s world, admitting that you skip breakfast often invites criticism and warnings. But let's consider this question rationally: What does breakfast provide our body?

Simply put, breakfast gives us nourishment—nutrients, proteins, vitamins, minerals, energy, and more. But do we really consume a healthy breakfast?

Let's take a look at typical breakfasts across India:

North India: Parathas, samosas, kachoris, pooris, chole bhature

South India: Idli, vada, masala dosa, upma

West India: Poha, jalebi, fafda, dhokla

Most of these options are not particularly healthy, offering little real nourishment and plenty of empty calories.

When people ask about my breakfast, I often tell them I don't eat breakfast. This usually triggers a session of scare tactics. In Bangalore, it's common to greet someone with "Thindi Aitho" or "Coffee Aitho." To avoid disrespecting this cultural norm, I often respond with "Aitho," even though I don't actually eat breakfast.

So what do I do instead of eating breakfast? I have replaced my breakfast with exercise and a morning run. This often baffles people—how can exercise replace food?

Here’s how my morning run nourishes me:

Fresh air and oxygen

Early morning sunlight

Positive thoughts

A healthy and fit body

A positive start to the day

Burning extra calories

I personally feel that my morning run energizes every cell in my body, transforming my breakfast from food to physical activity.

So, which is better: Pooris, parathas, masala dosa, or my new breakfast, the morning run?

This analogy might be unconventional, but common sense suggests that an unhealthy breakfast adds empty calories and minimal nourishment. Exercise can be as nourishing as food, if not more so.

I hope this perspective encourages you to rethink your breakfast and consider how exercise could offer a healthy start to your day.