Why not eating breakfast can cause stomach pain at noon

Generally, the causes of stomach pain at noon due to skipping breakfast include gastric acid irritation, abnormal gastric motility, bile discharge issues, low blood sugar, and dysregulation of digestive enzyme secretion. Details are as follows:

1. Gastric Acid Irritation

After a night's rest, the stomach is basically emptied, but gastric acid continues to be secreted. When breakfast is skipped, there is no food in the stomach to neutralize this acid, causing it to accumulate and increase in concentration. By noon, this gastric acid may strongly irritate the gastric mucosa, leading to stomach pain. Long-term skipping of breakfast may also lead to gastric diseases such as gastric ulcers.

2. Abnormal Gastric Motility

Under normal circumstances, the human digestive system functions according to a certain circadian rhythm of peristalsis and digestion. Eating breakfast initiates the normal operation of the digestive system and maintains regular gastric peristalsis. If breakfast is skipped, the rhythm of gastric motility can be disrupted. By noon, the stomach may not adequately adapt to the sudden digestive demands, resulting in disordered motility and subsequent stomach pain.

3. Bile Discharge Issues

Bile stored in the gallbladder is usually released into the intestines during meals to aid in the digestion of fatty foods. Skipping breakfast can cause bile to become overly concentrated and accumulate in the gallbladder. When a meal is consumed at noon, a large amount of bile may be released suddenly, potentially causing abnormal gallbladder contractions. Additionally, bile may reflux into the stomach, irritating the gastric mucosa and causing stomach pain.

4. Low Blood Sugar

After a night's sleep, the body's energy stores are depleted and blood sugar levels are already low. Breakfast is an important meal for replenishing blood sugar. If breakfast is skipped, blood sugar levels may drop further by noon. Hypoglycemia can stimulate the sympathetic nervous system, triggering the release of hormones such as adrenaline. These hormones can cause vasoconstriction of the gastrointestinal blood vessels, affecting blood supply and normal function of the gastrointestinal tract, thereby causing stomach pain.

5. Dysregulation of Digestive Enzyme Secretion

Food intake stimulates the gastrointestinal tract to secrete various digestive enzymes that aid in digestion. Skipping breakfast can interfere with the normal secretion rhythm of these enzymes, resulting in insufficient or delayed enzyme secretion at lunchtime. This can lead to inadequate digestion of food, prolonging its retention time in the stomach and causing symptoms such as bloating and stomach pain.

To avoid stomach pain at noon, it is recommended to eat breakfast regularly every day and choose nutritious, easily digestible foods. Maintaining good eating habits and a regular lifestyle also helps maintain gastrointestinal health. If stomach pain occurs frequently, it is advisable to seek timely medical examination to determine the underlying cause and receive targeted treatment.