Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a commoner and dine like a pauper goes the old saying; and it may be more accurate than we think, according to the researchers at the University of Alabama. So if you like the whole bacon and eggs with hash browns routine in the morning, you just may be in luck!

According to a study published in the International Journal of Obesity, having a high fat breakfast may actually be good for you: it may guard against and prevent Metabolic Syndrome.

In a study conducted on rats, it was found that those rats that were fed a high fat meal in the morning (soon after waking) had normal metabolic profiles. On the other hand, those rats, which were given a high carb meal in the morning and a high fat meal at night, put on much more weight. They also displayed symptoms of Metabolic Syndrome.

The import of this study was to show that it is not just what we eat but also when we eat it that makes a difference. According to one of the researchers, the first meal you have appears to program your metabolism for the rest of the day.