How important is Breakfast?
Not many people realize it but eating breakfast is the secret to
staying healthy. No matter how busy you are, it's important to
fuel your body so that you can have energy throughout the day.
Eating a good breakfast sets the tone for the rest of the day.
So don't overlook this important meal. Select healthy options
that fit your taste and lifestyle.
The Benefits of a healthy Breakfast are:
Jumpstart your metabolism from the overnight fast: Breakfast is
considered an important meal because it breaks the overnight
fasting periods and replenishes your supply of glucose. Glucose
is your body's energy source and is broken down and absorbed
from the carbohydrates you eat. In the morning, after you have
gone without food for as long as 12 hours, your glucose levels
drop. When this happens, your body compensates by releasing the
glucose that has been stored in your muscle tissue and liver,
called glycogen. Once all the energy from the glycogen stored is
used up, the body breaks down fatty acids to produce energy.
Without carbohydrates, fatty acids are only partially oxidized,
which can cause reduced energy levels.
Works towards weight Loss: After 12 hours of sleep your body has
been fasting overnight, and in the morning you are almost in the
first stages of starvation. Skipping breakfast keeps your body
in 'starvation' mode, while eating a good meal will give your
metabolism a boost. If you're trying to lose weight, the last
thing you want to do is keep your metabolism at this lowered
state. Eating a healthy breakfast will increase your fat burning
ability. Breakfast, therefore, can boost your energy levels as
well as your metabolism for the day.
Increase your essential nutrients and overall energy levels:
Breakfast provides a significant proportion of the day's total
nutrient intake and offers the opportunity to eat foods
fortified with nutrients such as foliate, iron, vitamins and
fiber. Essential vitamins, minerals and other nutrients can only
be gained from food.
Give You Brain fuel To Enhance Concentration: Eating breakfast
improves your thinking ability and keeps you at top mental
performance. It provides your brain with fuel to enhance problem
solving and memory retention.
Beat The Binges: Eating a good breakfast will keep you from
getting too hungry, which will help prevent you from over eating
later in the day. Breakfast eaters are able to better resist
fatty and high caloric foods throughout the day. If you skip
breakfast, you will tend to nibble on snacks during the
mid-morning and turn to coffee for an energy boost.
So what does a Healthy Breakfast comprise of?
A healthy breakfast should consist of a variety of foods. It
should contain complex carbohydrates, protein and fiber. Protein
can come from eggs, beans, or soy. Fiber and carbohydrates can
be found in whole cereals, grains or in fruits. A good example
of a healthy breakfast might be something like a boiled egg, an
orange, and a bowl of whole grain cereal with skimmed milk.
No matter what you choose, eating breakfast gives you body and
your brain the energy they need to carry you through the day. Be
good to yourself and eat breakfast, as it will make you feel
much better throughout the day.