The One Breakfast Mistake That Makes Inflammation So Much Worse

Having too much sugar for breakfast

Although you may wake up craving something sweet to go with your coffee in the morning, it's no secret that consuming too much sugar can be detrimental to your overall health. And unfortunately, eating sweet foods or adding too much sugar to your coffee or tea first thing in the morning can be especially bad for you. Starting your day with a sugar rush could lead to inflammation and weight gain over time, experts warn.

Many sweet breakfasts come in the form of refined carbs, which Hunnes dubs as some of the worst foods for your overall health. "The least healthy type of carbohydrates to eat are ultra-processed carbohydrates that are frequently found in packaged foods such as Pop-Tarts, energy bars, and pastries," she says. Although tasty, these options are highly inflammatory.

"The reason these types of carbs are [so unhealthy] is because they provide no nutritional benefit, they are often devoid of vitamins and minerals, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory compounds," Hunnes continues, noting that they can lead to "insulin spikes, increases in IGF-1, an inflammatory marker, and increases risk for chronic diseases and deposition (fat storage)" of calories in the body. Yikes!

Luckily, limiting your sugar intake doesn't mean you can't enjoy a slightly sweet breakfast. Hunnes recommends that those with a sweet tooth top a healthy bowl of oatmeal with some fiber-filled fruit, because "fiber can prevent and reduced inflammation by keeping the G.I. track moving." Plus, it's delicious!

Ultimately, while it may be hard to resist those chocolate croissants or some stuffed French toast, kicking your sugar habit–especially when breakfast rolls around—is an important part of keeping inflammation to a minimum.