You hear the saying all the time: "Breakfast is the most important meal of the day", and yes, it is for many reasons. Here are just a few facts regarding breakfast that may make you think twice before skipping it, a little does a lot when it comes to eating breakfast.
Breakfast is the first meal that 'starts' your day, think about it, you just spent eight hours (sleeping) with no food or water. You’re dehydrated, your blood sugar is low and you have little energy. The health benefits of eating breakfast extend throughout your day, making it the most important meal of the day. Consuming a good, hearty breakfast is like priming a pump, to help your body get ready for a full day's worth of activity. Not only does the first meal of the day heat up your metabolism to better burn calories, studies show that the effects of this "jump start" help keep the metabolism working at a higher rate throughout the day. Blood sugar levels rise up and remain higher longer. Skipping this important meal does you no good at all. You will be hungry sooner, eat more later, and not have the good energy to function efficiently. Besides, eating breakfast actually helps you lose weight. Those who skip the meal tend to snack before lunch and throughout the day, usually on unhealthy, high-calorie foods. Those who eat breakfast, typically cruise until lunch, while beaming with energy.
Other health benefits of eating breakfast include a boost in concentration, energy and productivity levels. Eating high fiber breakfast foods like cereal, fruit, grains, nuts, and yogurt are lower calorie than snack foods like doughnuts or sweet rolls. They give you needed bulk in your diet, last longer, help you feel full and less hungry longer. High protein breakfast foods like eggs, milk, and meats are good breakfast foods, but watch out for the fats like butter and cream cheese. Always take fats in moderation. Eating breakfast will improve your overall nutrition, and help reduce the risk of heart disease and regulate cholesterol. Breakfast is important to body metabolism by breaking the fast of sleep time; long term fasting does not allow you to produce the enzymes needed to metabolize fat to lose weight. Extensive studies on this topic have been done by researchers at the Cleveland (OH) Mayo Clinic and Harvard University/Massachusetts General Hospital.
Those are just a few facts about the importance of breakfast to keep in mind. Making breakfast a regular part of your daily life, is one of the easiest ways to jumpstart you to a life of wellness. Living 'well' is what we should be aiming for, keep in mind that eating breakfast can aid in breaking the habit of unhealthy snacking throughout the morning and even throughout the day. Always remember to smile.
Be Well :)
