Articles

Breakfast- The Energy Booster

By Ms. Revathy R : Nutritionist

The rush hour of the morning, kids going off to school, adults running to work, the sufferer is the breakfast, often skipped, more often underrated. Start your day with a good breakfast!! Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Just as you can't drive your car when the gauge indicates that the gas tank is empty, you cannot expect your body to function at its best without replenishing its energy after a 10 to 12 hour fast.

Benefits: Food is fuel to our body. Breakfast especially not only starts your day off right, but also lays the foundation for lifelong health benefits. People who eat a healthy breakfast are more likely to:

1. Consume more vitamins and minerals and less fat and cholesterol
2. Have better concentration and productivity throughout the morning
3. Control their weight
4. Have lower cholesterol, which reduces the risk of heart disease

Breakfast skippers have a harder time fitting important nutrients into their diet. Many foods eaten at breakfast contains significant amount of vitamin C and D, calcium, iron and fibre Some people believe that skipping breakfast may help them lose weight. Not really! Skipping meals often leads to overeating later in the day. Becoming over hungry often leads to a lack of control and consume too much of food. This subsequently results in taking more calories than if one had an appropriate breakfast.

Missing breakfast or having a poor, sugary breakfast can lead to weight gain, mood swings, craving and snacking, headaches etc. Adding breakfast to your eating pattern is a major step to improving your lifestyle. It boosts your energy, increases your attention span, problem solving ability, mental performance, memory, and mood. It also heightens your sense of well-being and keeps better control of your emotions.

A Good Breakfast is nutritious and provides complex carbohydrates which are slow to release their energy into the body. This will keep you going until lunch, providing the energy needed for work or study. Complex or whole meal carbohydrates will also provide a range of vitamins; minerals and fibre which the body needs to function and grow properly, making it a much healthier choice.
What if there is no time in the morning for breakfast?

Breakfast doesn’t have to always be traditional breakfast food. There are plenty of items you can bring along with you to work or school. Carry easy-to-eat whole grain cereal, small box of toned milk or toast, or juice or fruit. Try to have a little something- such as some juice and bring a mid-morning snack with you. The important thing is to try and get some protein and carbohydrate in the breakfast as well as preferably some fat. This will provide some sustaining energy that will power you through the morning.

Facts you probably didn't know about breakfast:

• Breakfast eaters are able to lose weight faster than others, as eating regularly each morning boosts your body's metabolism.
• A regular meal every morning ensures that you will not binge at lunch -- your stomach will already be half full.
• As compared to those who skip a morning meal, breakfast eaters are more alert and work more efficiently -- their brains receive the required nutritional energy at the start of each day.
• Children who eat a good breakfast each morning are known to perform better at school and are less hyperactive.
• While fruit juice is considered an essential part of a good breakfast, eating a whole fruit is a better idea -- it will provide you with less calories and more fibre, which may be lost in the juice.

Breakfast is especially important for children and adolescents. Children who eat a healthy breakfast are more likely to have better concentration, problem-solving skills and eye-hand coordination. They will be more alert, creative and less likely to miss school.

And remember, Health is by choice… not by chance! The choice is completely yours. You don’t have to be a statistic. By adopting a better diet and wiser lifestyle habits, you can live longer, feel better and enjoy a healthier, more productive life.