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August: The Many Benefits of Breakfast
August 11 , 2004 by Amy Andelora
Morning has broken. You’re up and at ‘em – rested and ready to conquer another busy day. But wait. You just went without nourishment for at least eight to ten hours, so why did you skip breakfast?You have likely heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It is also the meal most frequently skipped.
People who skip breakfast frequently claim they’re too busy or trying to cut calories, but what they don’t realize is they’re setting themselves up for the exact opposite effect than the one they’re trying to achieve.
Breakfast is the first chance the body has to “break the fast” and replenish necessary glucose levels, or blood sugar, for kick-starting your metabolism so you effectively burn calories throughout the day and maintain more consistent energy levels.
Forty years of research and studies reveal many important benefits of eating breakfast, including:
* Reduced risk of developing problems such as diabetes or becoming obese;
* Decreased chance of indulging in high-calorie snacks or overeating at other meals;
* Raising your metabolism so your body can utilize the energy from foods you eat later in the day;
* Reduced risk of gaining weight over time;
* Improved concentration, mental performance, mood and memory.
The American Dietetic Association offers these helpful suggestions for incorporating a well-balanced breakfast into your daily routine:
* Ready-to-eat whole-grain cereal. Top with fruit and a cup of yogurt;
* Whole-grain waffles topped with peanut butter, fruit or ricotta cheese;
* A whole-wheat pita stuffed with sliced hard-cooked eggs;
* Whole-grain toast with peanut or soy nut butter with a glass of milk;
* A leftover turkey and cranberry sauce sandwich;
* Scrambled eggs, toast and fruit;
* Hot cereal topped with cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice or cloves;
* Peanut butter on a bagel with fresh fruit (banana or apple wedges) and low-fat milk;
* Breakfast smoothie (milk, fruit and teaspoon of bran, whirled in a blender);
* Lean ham on a toasted English muffin and vegetable juice.
Chandler Regional Hospital encourages people to master the basics of healthy living. Eating breakfast is one of the most important ways to give yourself a fresh start to a healthy lifestyle every single day.
