| Ok... If you are reading this is because you do | | | | But breakfast is more than an energy source. |
| want to hear the "why breakfast is good for you" | | | | Breakfast is good for you because it:provides |
| sermon. | | | | glucose to your brain, making you mentally |
| Well, you may have read it in the paper, or | | | | efficient and alert. You get "the edge" by having |
| maybe you've heard it on the radio on your way | | | | breakie (Australian for "breakfast"); ;-)reduces |
| to work. It's almost a cliche! Almost everybody | | | | your cholesterol levels (depending on what you |
| knows that "breakfast is the most important | | | | eat for breakie, of course!);gives you vital |
| meal of the day". | | | | nutrients and vitamins;makes you slimmer, by |
| If it's so good... how come many people skip | | | | jump-starting your metabolism (how quickly your |
| breakfast? | | | | body burns energy), which is slow after relative |
| People do. There are lots of excuses for not | | | | inactivity at night.makes you "Mr or Ms Happy". |
| having breakfast, including (but not limited to): | | | | An energized and balanced meal may alter your |
| Lack of timenot being a morning persontrying to | | | | mode and make you feel better during the day. |
| lose weight | | | | What to have for breakfast? |
| Not finding anything good for breakfast, andhaving | | | | The opposite of skipping breakfast is having the |
| forgotten to have it | | | | wrong things for breakfast (and possibly too |
| A while ago I used to skip breakfast too. | | | | much of it too!). |
| Later on I would have "whatever", and then a | | | | Every meal is capable of giving you energy. The |
| very heavy lunch (depending on how hungry I | | | | question is "how long will that energy last for?". |
| would be by lunch time). | | | | This is important to know because that will |
| But when I started paying attention to what I ate | | | | determine whether you still feel "charged up" till |
| (and how and how much), I realised the damage I | | | | lunch time, or whether you're starving by 10 AM. |
| was causing to my body by skipping the most | | | | Avoid things like chocolate chip muffins and other |
| important meal of the day. | | | | high sugar meals. The energy levels are high (and |
| What happens to our bodies when we skip | | | | they taste deliciuos, I know!) but short-lived, and |
| breakfast? | | | | the residual makes you bigger and heavier. So, |
| Understanding this question will help you realise | | | | these foods are a no-no. |
| "why breakfast is good for you", and hopefully, | | | | Fresh fruits and cereals, are a healthier choice, but |
| you'll reconsider making breakfast a must in your | | | | you have to be mindful of the sugar contained in |
| everyday life. | | | | cereals. Some of them can have enough sugar a |
| For starters, if you skip breakfast you're making | | | | whole family in one single serving! |
| it harder for your body to lose weight, and your | | | | But what if you're not "a breakfast person?" |
| energy levels will tend to be lower than those of | | | | There is no such a thing as a "breakfast person". |
| a person who looks after herself. | | | | If you need to do something for your health, you |
| Why? | | | | do it, and you can condition yourself to make |
| Think about it. By the time breakfast is due, your | | | | having breakfast part of your life and take |
| body has not received any food for about 8 | | | | pleasure on it. |
| hours (a third of your day). Compare this with | | | | But I've got a couple of tips that can help you in |
| your "day" hours, when you have 3 (if not more) | | | | your transition to having breakfast: |
| meals. | | | | Know "why" breakfast is important. Reading this |
| It is amazing how, if you are used to skipping | | | | article was a good start; ;-) |
| breakfast, you condition yourself to feel "ok", but | | | | Buy fruits and cereal (but mind the amount of |
| a close examination of your "fasting" mood would | | | | sugar that some cereals contain); |
| reveal that your levels of energy are low. What | | | | Check out my (ahem... )delicious low fat breakfast |
| happens is that your body is rested at the end of | | | | recipes and try some (you'll like them, I |
| a good sleep, but you still need the energy after | | | | promise);plan your meals. Planning ahead to have |
| you wake up. | | | | interesting and tasty meals for breakfast will help |
| Your body does not stop just because you go to | | | | you enjoy it; |
| sleep. It goes on breathing, digesting, pumping up | | | | If you don't have the time to prepare breakie |
| blood everywhere in your body, and moving | | | | (you don't have 5 minutes for yourself!?), you |
| (amongst many other physiological processes). | | | | may choose a good low fat fast food outlet and |
| It constantly needs fuel (ie food), and even if | | | | be good and have a low-fat-low-sugar-meal. |
| you're not hungry early in the morning, your body | | | | But whatever you do... do have breakfast! |
| will still need the extra energy contained in a | | | | ... it's good for you! ;-) |
| breakfast meal. It makes sense, doesn't it? | | | | Have a great day! |