Everyone has heard the old saying, ‘eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dine like a pauper’ – this definitely could be the best way to lose weight and stay healthy! A major review of 28 recent studies has concluded that keeping calories down late at night is the secret to combating obesity.
Breakfast is the first and most important meal of the day, it is the meal that ‘breaks’ your nights recommended 12 hour ‘fast’.
Here are the many reasons why you shouldn’t skip breakfast.
1. First meal of the day
Breakfast is the meal that the body uses to top up its glucose levels after eight to twelve hours of fasting. Glucose is vital for the brain and it’s the main energy source for the body. As well, it also fuels the muscles that are necessary for physical activity through the day. If you skip breakfast, you will have a shorter attention span, be less alert, take longer to react, have low blood sugar, and decreased productivity. To keep your metabolism working at its optimum level, you need to eat a nutritious breakfast in the morning.
2. It helps to maintain weight
Eating breakfast has proven to be a better and faster way of losing weight. While you might think the easiest way to cut calories is to skip a meal altogether, eating throughout the day helps maintain and speed up your metabolism. If you eat a healthy whole grain breakfast paired with fruits, your body will feel more satisfied and you will not feel the urge to reach for that mid-day snack to help curb your hunger.
3. Keeps the heart healthy
If you don’t have the first meal of the day you are going to be hungrier later in the day and eat more food than necessary. Those meals mean the body must process a higher number of calories in a short span of time, which can lead to clogged arteries and cause a spike in blood sugar levels.
4. Helps You Concentrate
It’s easier to focus after you have eaten a healthy breakfast. Hunger affects your mood, concentration, and alertness, which can often lead to frustration and irritability. Eating a healthy and balanced breakfast allows you to stay productive throughout the day.
5. Improves Your Memory
Eating breakfast boosts your memory. Carbohydrates are the preferred energy source for the brain. Choosing complex carbohydrates like oats or other whole-grain cereals, which provide fiber and nutrients at breakfast may improve memory due to the increase of glucose available to the brain. So, try a blend of healthy carbohydrates and lean protein along with healthy fats like flaxseed and nuts for the perfect first meal of the day.
Mix and match from the various food items available here and start your day with your favourite healthy breakfast!
