Researchers at the University of Bath have discovered that consuming breakfast before exercise primes the body to burn more carbohydrates during activity and accelerates food digestion afterward.
In their study, the team compared the effects of eating breakfast versus overnight fasting before a one-hour cycling session. A control group rested for three hours after breakfast. Participants—12 healthy men—ate porridge made with milk two hours prior to exercise or rest. Post-session, researchers measured blood glucose and muscle glycogen levels.
The findings show breakfast significantly enhanced carbohydrate utilization during exercise while speeding up post-workout metabolism and digestion of nutrients.
