Cake For Breakfast Could Help Weight Loss

In a study that sounds too good to be true, researchers have found that a little dessert at breakfast helps dieters lose more weight, and keep the pounds off.

The study, published in the journal Steroids and led by researchers at Tel Aviv University, found that participants who added cookies, cake, or chocolate to breakfast lost an average of 40 pounds more than the group that avoided the foods.

Why breakfast? The body's metabolism is more active in the morning, so a big breakfast is a better option than big lunches or dinners. "The group that consumed a bigger breakfast, including dessert, experienced few if any cravings for these foods later in the day," professor Daniela Jakubowicz of Tel Aviv University said.

And a little indulgence is good; avoiding sweets can cause a psychological addiction to the foods in the long run.

"The participants in the low carbohydrate diet group had less satisfaction, and felt that they were not full," Jakubowicz said. This led to sugar and carb cravings, and often the participants ended up cheating and regaining weight lost.

So tomorrow's brunch? Brioche french toast, please. Or maybe a slice of chocolate cake.

The Daily Byte is a regular column dedicated to covering interesting food news and trends across the country. Click here for previous columns.