Men will never have to endure childbirth or navigate menopause, but they are at higher risk for heart disease, which is the number one cause of death in the US.
“Hormonal differences are one of the main reasons why men tend to develop heart disease earlier than women,” says Dr. Laura Dal Farra, MD, a cardiologist and the CEO of PALM Health.
Dr. Dal Farra explains that estrogen (which women have higher levels of) protects arteries by prompting the thin inner lining of blood vessels to release nitric oxide, a natural signaling molecule that relaxes and widens blood vessels. This causes blood to move more freely, which reduces blood pressure. After menopause, women’s estrogen levels drop, so they lose this protective factor. Since men have lower levels of this protective hormone—at least before women hit menopause—their risk of heart disease is higher.
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“Men and women also differ in the characteristics of the plaque they develop. Plaque is the buildup of cholesterol and other material inside artery walls. In men, plaque in the coronary arteries often has more fat and features that make it more likely to rupture, which triggers many heart attacks,” Dr. Dal Farra says. She also says that men tend to develop risk factors such as high blood pressure and unfavorable cholesterol levels earlier in life, which also increases the risk of heart disease.
Fortunately, heart disease is almost entirely preventable. Diet and lifestyle matter greatly when it comes to heart health. There’s one common breakfast habit in particular that many men do that could be increasing their risk of heart disease without them even realizing it.
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The Common Breakfast Habit Cardiologists Wish Men Would Stop Doing
If you’re among the roughly quarter of Americans who skip breakfast, you could be increasing your risk for heart disease without even realizing it. A 2025 scientific study published in Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine shows an association between those who skip breakfast and a higher incidence of heart disease.
Dr. Adedapo Iluyomade, MD, FACC, a preventive cardiologist and the medical director at the Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute, says that it isn’t skipping breakfast itself that increases this risk; it’s other unhealthy habits it can lead to. For example, both cardiologists say that people who skip breakfast are more likely to consume more calories later in the day. This, they say, can increase the risk of obesity, which is a risk factor for heart disease.
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“People who regularly skip breakfast often have other eating habits that may contribute to weight gain, including eating irregularly and late at night, at times that do not align with the body’s usual sleep and wake cycle. They also often report feeling hungrier and less full and have higher levels of ghrelin, a hormone that stimulates hunger. Many compensate by eating more later in the day, often choosing more fast food and sugar and less fiber, fruit and vegetables,” Dr. Dal Farra says.
Dr. Dal Farra says that skipping breakfast can also raise blood sugar, which is another risk factor for heart disease. “Skipping breakfast may make the body less responsive to insulin, the hormone that helps move sugar from the bloodstream into cells for energy. The body may then need to release more insulin to keep blood sugar under control after a meal,” she says.
She adds that eating breakfast can help the body control blood sugar after lunch. “Researchers call this the ‘second-meal effect,’” she says. She explains that insulin released after breakfast lowers levels of fatty acids, which are components of fat circulating in the blood. “Lower fatty acid levels help muscles respond more effectively to insulin and store sugar for later use. As a result, blood sugar rises less after lunch. When breakfast is skipped, blood sugar may rise more sharply after later meals,” she says.
Dr. Iluyomade emphasizes that what matters most is total calorie intake and diet quality. Skipping breakfast may lead to less healthy dietary patterns for the remainder of the day, but it’s not skipping breakfast itself that increases the risk for heart disease.
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What to Eat for Breakfast to Support Your Heart
Inspired to stop skipping breakfast? If you want a morning meal that supports your cardiovascular health, Dr. Iluyomade recommends eating a morning meal that’s minimally processed and high in fiber. To this point, scientific research shows an association between a high-fiber diet and a lower risk of heart disease.
If you want your diet to support your cardiovascular health, Dr. Dal Farra recommends an eating plan like the Mediterranean diet or DASH diet, which are both scientifically shown to reduce the risk of heart disease. Both of these eating plans emphasize foods that are minimally processed, such as plant-based proteins, lean animal proteins, seafood, vegetables, fruit and whole grains. Additionally, minimizing sodium intake is a core part of the DASH diet.
Breakfasts that are full of fiber and fit within the Mediterranean or DASH diet ways of eating include oatmeal with Greek yogurt and berries, chia seed pudding with walnuts, and scrambled eggs with veggies and avocado.
Other Ways to Reduce Your Risk of Heart Disease
Eating a heart-healthy breakfast can set the tone for the rest of the day, inspiring even more healthy habits. Dr. Iluyomade says that staying physically active is key to heart health. The American Heart Association recommends engaging in at least 150 minutes of aerobic exercise a week, which is roughly 21 minutes a day. It’s a guideline that only one in five Americans meets.
“Regular aerobic activity, including walking, lowers cardiovascular risk. It improves how well blood vessels work and helps the body respond more effectively to insulin, the hormone that regulates blood sugar. It also raises HDL, often called ‘good’ cholesterol, and lowers LDL, often called ‘bad’ cholesterol,” Dr. Dal Farra says.
Both doctors say it’s also important to know your numbers, monitoring your blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar and inflammation levels measured through blood tests. If any of these numbers are outside a healthy range, work with your doctor to address them.
And, just in case you need another reminder, both doctors say it’s important not to use tobacco in any form. It’s the worst habit for every aspect of health, including your heart.
By maintaining healthy habits, you can reduce your risk of heart disease significantly. It all starts with how you choose to spend your morning, including taking the time to sit down and eat a balanced breakfast.
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Sources
Leading Causes of Death. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Dr. Laura Dal Farra, MD, cardiologist and the CEO of PALM Health. Buckner, S. L., Loprinzi, P. D., Loenneke, J. P. (2016). Why don’t more people eat breakfast? A biological perspective. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 103(6):1555-1556. Zhang, H., Zhang, S., Liu, Y., et al. (2025). The association between skipping breakfast and cardiovascular disease: a meta analysis. Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine. doi: 10.3389/fcvm.2025.1565806. Dr. Adedapo Iluyomade, MD, FACC, preventive cardiologist and the medical director at the Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute. van der Heijden, A. A. W. A., Hu, F. B., Rimm, E. B., et al. (2007). A prospective study of breakfast consumption and weight gain among US men. Obesity. 15(10):2463-9. Diabetes and Your Heart. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Zhang, L., Chen, Y., Yang, Q., et al. (2025). The Impact of Dietary Fiber on Cardiovascular Diseases: A Scoping Review. Nutrients. 17(3):444. American Heart Association Recommendations for Physical Activity in Adults and Kids. American Heart Association.Hence then, the article about the one morning habit cardiologists wish more men would break was published today ( ) and is available on Parade ( Saudi Arabia ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
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