Gut health expert urges you to 'eradicate' sugary breakfast item from your diet

There's no meal more important than , that's something we've all been taught as long as we can remember. But not all breakfasts are created equal and one expert has explained what she would remove from all of our diets if she could: orange juice.

This is because of its astronomically high sugar content: often the equivalent of seven teaspoons of sugar, which can lead to unstable sugar levels in your blood. Biochemist Jessie Inchauspe would see us all "eradicate" the sugary fruit juice from our diets and instead opt for high protein, savoury breakfast that will ensure we stay full for longer.

Inchauspe puts the predilection for high-sugar breakfasts down to marketing campaigns, which have convinced the public over the years that incorporating sugar into our first meal of the day is a good idea. As a biochemist, product developer and author, knows her stuff when it comes to good gut health and a nutritious diet. Speaking at the Randox Cost of Nutrition Conference she advised: "People have told you for a very long time 'have an orange juice in a morning, it will give you energy', 'breakfast should be sweet – it should be pastries, cereal' but it's all lies. Eating sweet breakfasts was invented by the food industry just to make money because breakfasts are very profitable.

"The best breakfast is a savoury breakfast that is based around protein. Protein is a very important substance to eat to keep you very satiated, the body needs it and we don't eat nearly enough of it. You can have leftovers from your dinner for breakfast – so maybe you had fish, veg and fritters – have that instead". The expert noted that the classic Full English breakfast is also a good, high protein alternative to high-sugar cereals, pastries or juices, but advises you make it yourself at home so that you can be sure it isn't processed.

The including eggs, sausages (or meat alternatives), beans, cod or salmon into your breakfasts to make sure you're starting the day with a good protein hit. On average, women need about 44g of protein a day and men 55g, which is roughly two portions - around the size of the palm of your hand - but the recommends that this doesn't all come from meat, and in particular not red meat.

This is because diets with too much meat have "have been linked to increased risks of heart disease, diabetes, some cancers and may also shorten your life". Instead you should try and incorporate lentils, beans and peas into your meals for a healthier protein boost.

What do you have for breakfast? Let us know in the comments below.

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