We all know that mornings can be a manic rush sometimes. Do you often find that time disappears and you end up leaving the house having skipped that all important first meal of the day? Hopefully after reading this article you will understand the reasons as to why breakfast is often referred to as the most important meal of the day!
Why is breakfast so important?
Overnight your body goes into a fasting mode. Replenishing your body first thing in the morning with all of the nutrients that it needs is crucial. Without breakfast you simply do not have the energy to carry you through the day and are effectively running on empty.
The main benefits of ensuring you don't skip breakfast include:
Decreasing your appetite- For some people the reasoning behind skipping breakfast is to cut calories. However, what they fail to realise is that if you leave the house hungry you are more likely to snack unnecessarily throughout the morning. By eating a highly nutritious breakfast, you will stay fuller for longer and will be less likely to want to snack throughout the day.
Improved concentration- It is just as important to fuel your brain as it is to fuel your body. Eating a balanced breakfast in the morning will help to keep blood sugar levels steady and allow optimal cognitive function throughout the day.
Boosting metabolism- A nutritious breakfast is essential for kick starting your metabolism which helps you to burn calories efficiently during the day. Overnight your body is not burning many calories and skipping breakfast means that you are starting the day at a slower pace. Eating later could mean that your body doesn't have enough time to absorb the nutrients that it needs to stay fit and healthy. You may also find that by delaying your eating, you become too hungry to make healthier choices!
What makes a good breakfast?
The typical breakfast of cereal and milk is not the best type of breakfast to have each day. Cereals tend to be high in sugar which can have great impact on your insulin levels. When you consume sugary foods, your blood sugar levels will spike rapidly making you feel energized. However, this won't last and they will dramatically drop again. This leads to you becoming hungry and tired. A breakfast that consists of both carbohydrates and protein is recommended. The carbohydrates will provide you with slow releasing energy to fuel your morning. Protein helps to keep you fuller for longer and reduces the need to pointlessly snack!
Sources: foxnews, oatsovernight
