Scientists have busted the myth that a hearty breakfast is key to kickstarting the day, after discovering skipping breakfast before training gives male athletes an edge.
Researchers at New Zealand's Massey University dispelled the dogma that a carbohydrate-fuelled meal was vital before a work out.
"This whole idea about kick-starting your day by having some breakfast cereal is a complete load of rubbish," said lead researcher Steve Stannard.
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"If you want to kick-start your day, go out and exercise."
A team from the North Island university followed two groups of seven beginner cyclists - four women and three men - as they trained over four weeks.
Greater fat-burning capacity
One group ate a high carbohydrate breakfast before training while the other worked out early in the morning before eating anything.
Both groups cycled for 75 minutes at moderate intensity.
The muscles of male participants who trained without breakfast showed a greater ability to burn fat, they were able to store higher levels of muscle glycogen and boasted a bigger improvement in peak power and storing oxygen.
"By starting out with less fuel you will reach the point where your really begin to stress the body quicker," Dr Stannard said.
"This means you will spend longer under stress and ultimately the training will be more beneficial."
But this was not the case for female participants, whose fat burning capacity was greater after eating brekkie.
Carbs still vital before a race
"What our results suggest is that for men... training before breakfast encourages the muscles to adapt in a more accelerated fashion than if training was always done after eating a high carbohydrate meal," Dr Stannard said.
He said it wasn't clear why it was different for men and women but it could be tied to the way muscles use fuel, which appears to be associated with sex hormones.
Dr Stannard told the Dominion Post this was the first time sports science has been able to prove that men and women burn fat differently.
Despite the results, published in the Journal of Science and Medicine and Sport, Dr Stannard said eating before an actual race was still important.
"There is a large amount of evidence supporting carbohydrate ingestion before and during prolonged exercise to increase endurance performance," he said.
"This means eating some carbohydrates before competing will help you go faster for longer in a race."
