5 popular breakfasts that increase stress in body in morning

Fruit smoothies

Psychiatrist and nutritionist Uma Naidoo explained that while she often recommends smoothies as a simple and portable way to get a powerful dose of protein and plant-based nutrients, there are drinks that are essentially disguised sugary milkshakes.

Specifically, smoothies made only from fruit can be healthy, while certain shakes contain a large amount of sugar.

Such drinks can cause a sudden energy spike followed by a crash just a few hours later, leading to fatigue, anxiety, and irritability.

Coffee with toppings

Coffee is a favorite way for many people to start the day. However, people often add artificial flavorings, refined sugar, and dairy products to their coffee, which only increases inflammation in the body and brain.

This can lead to worsened symptoms of mental health disorders and impaired cognitive function.

Cereals

Some breakfast cereals can contribute to increased stress levels, especially if they are high in sugar and low in fiber or protein. Here's why:

• High sugar content – most commercial cereals have a high glycemic index. This causes a rapid rise in blood glucose followed by a sharp drop, which can result in irritability, anxiety, and fatigue.
• Lack of nutrients – if breakfast consists only of sugary flakes, the body may lack protein, fat, and fiber, all necessary for stable energy and hormonal balance.
• Impact on cortisol – unstable blood sugar levels can affect the production of cortisol, the stress hormone.

Store-bought cereals often lack these essential nutrients, which can disrupt brain function.

Fruit yogurts

This may come as a surprise, but in some cases, fruit yogurts can negatively affect your well-being in the morning. Here are a few possible reasons:

• Most store-bought fruit yogurts contain a lot of added sugar, which can cause irritability.
• If yogurt is your only breakfast item, your body may lack nutrients, which also triggers a stress response.
• Some people have difficulty digesting lactose or react to dyes, flavorings, or thickeners—this can cause physical discomfort and affect emotional well-being.
• If you feel hungry soon after breakfast, it can subconsciously create feelings of anxiety or irritability.

It’s important to read ingredient labels: 4 grams of sugar equals 1 teaspoon, so be careful not to consume 6 or 8 teaspoons of sugar in your supposedly “healthy” breakfast yogurt.

The best choice is Greek yogurt with chopped fruit, sprinkled with cinnamon and a drop of honey.

Donuts

Although donuts are a tasty and quick breakfast option, they contain a lot of sugar and simple carbohydrates, which can cause a sharp spike in blood glucose and an equally sharp drop afterward. This can result in:

• feelings of fatigue and irritability
• decreased concentration
• increased anxiety or stress

Regular consumption of sugary foods for breakfast can disrupt hormonal balance, particularly cortisol levels (the stress hormone).

This material is for informational purposes only and should not be used for medical diagnosis or self-treatment. Our goal is to provide readers with accurate information about symptoms, causes, and methods of detecting diseases. RBС-Ukraine is not responsible for any diagnoses that readers may make based on materials from the resource. We do not recommend self-treatment and advise consulting a doctor in case of any health concerns.