LunarGiantNeil t1_ix3v4vd wrote on November 20, 2022 at 3:38 PM

Reply to comment by d_phase in Study demonstrates that how effectively an individual awakens in the hours following sleep is associated four independent factors: sleep quantity/quality the night before, physical activity the day prior, a breakfast rich in carbohydrate, and a lower blood glucose response following breakfast. by the_phet

Here's the relevant section on morning caffeine:

"Moreover, caffeine intake was largely absent for the majority of observations (86% null + 12% missing = 98%), suggesting that most breakfast meals were not accompanied by any caffeinated drinks. Because of this low variance, breakfast caffeine intake was not included in the model. Nevertheless, including breakfast caffeine intake did not change the significance of the other predictors, and breakfast caffeine intake by itself was not a significant predictor of morning alertness — both with and without the OGTT (p = 0.11 and p = 0.605 respectively)."

Big Breakfast can take a flying leap though. I wake up before everyone in my family, make all their breakfasts and get people ready for school, motivating their slow-to-wake butts through the morning and I just skip breakfasts entirely, except for my double shot of black espresso, and then don't eat again until dinner.

Perhaps I am a mutant.

DrSuchong t1_ix4bx67 wrote on November 20, 2022 at 5:34 PM

It's anecdotal, but I've noticed if I eat most things for breakfast it throws off my alterness for a while, and if it's a carby breakfast it kinda sets the pace for what kind of food I have that day. Almonds, cheese, and a lil dried fruit seems to be the perfect one for me that keeps me alert and eating better the rest of the day.

LunarGiantNeil t1_ix4cut2 wrote on November 20, 2022 at 5:41 PM

That's an interesting idea to try!

I usually do intermittent fasting following my skipped breakfast because my workplace has no accommodations for lunches (ie, no fridge or kitchenette, no break room except a separate building a few minutes walk away through winter cold half of the year) and as long as I don't eat any breakfast I can avoid any feelings of hunger or sluggishness until dinner.

But on the weekends it might be fun to experiment with some early nuts and cheeses. I enjoy making shakshuka or stuff on those days, more for enjoyment than anything else, so I could run a little experiment and see how my alertness/hunger/QoL factors change on a day where I eat a mix of healthy fats and nutrient-dense foods.