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