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Drop that donut! Cleveland Clinic registered dietitian names the five worst breakfast foods for you

The list may include some of your favorites!

CLEVELAND — We've all heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. The food you eat gives you energy that lasts throughout the day.

But what if the breakfast foods you are eating are working against you?

According to a recent blog post from the Cleveland Clinic, your breakfast foods could be leading to mid-morning crashes, causing weight gain and "wreak havoc" on your metabolism. 

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Unsurprisingly, doughnuts, pastries and bright, sugary cereals made the list. "A huge blood sugar spike leads to an even bigger sugar crash," said Cleveland Clinic registered dietitian Kate Patton, MEd, RD, CSSD, LD. "This extreme up-and-down leaves you hungry soon after your breakfast - and you'll crave even more refined carbs. It's a vicious cycle of unhealthy eating that starts with the first doughnut."

Doughnuts run between 250 and 550 calories with up to 30 grams of sugar in each serving, according to Patton. Additionally, the food dyes found in colored cereals have been noted by the FDA to possibly contribute to hyperactivity in children with ADHD. The UK and EU have actually banned food dyes in food manufacturing. 

The classic sausage biscuit option is also going to land you in some trouble. "The sky-high sodium in the highly processed sausage can make your blood pressure surge," Patton writes. "If you have hypertension, it may increase your risk for stroke too."

A lesser known threat are your flavored non-dairy creamers. According to Patton, many non-dairy creamers switch saturated fats for trans fat, which is linked to increasing your risk of heart attack and stroke through higher LDL cholesterol levels. 

Lastly, a bagel, typically around 65 grams of carbohydrates, loaded with cream cheese or butter piles on additional calories and saturated fats. "Diets high in refined carbohydrates have been linked to increased risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, so don't make bagels loaded with toppings a regular morning meal," Patton concludes.

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