Breakfast | the meal of champions

When you’re running around the house in the morning, trying to get ready for the day, it’s easy to view breakfast as an unnecessary timewaster. The thing is, no matter why you choose to skip breakfast in the morning, you’re really selling yourself short. Here are four reasons why breakfast truly is the most important meal of the day.

Wake up your brain While you sleep, your body has to work hard to rejuvenate and repair cell damage incurred during the previous day. This requires significant energy resources, and by the time you wake up in the morning your central nervous system’s carbohydrate fuel reserves may be seriously depleted. Without eating breakfast to restock your fuel reserves, you may end up feeling groggy and forgetful – like your brain isn’t working at full capacity. Eating a breakfast rich in high-quality proteins and carbohydrates can restock your fuel reserves and help your brain function the way it’s supposed to.

Wake up your body

Without enough energy resources to fuel your brain appropriately, your muscles will also fail to perform at their peak. If your job requires physical labor or if you enjoy working out in the morning, this is a particularly negative side effect. Your performance will be impaired and you’ll discover yourself becoming fatigued quickly. Eating breakfast will enable your brain and muscles to receive the fuel they need to work and interact appropriately.

Stimulate metabolism

Believe it or not, eating actually helps you burn calories. It takes energy to break down and assimilate food into a form your body can use for energy. This diet induced thermogenesis (DIT) accounts for roughly 10 percent of your total daily calorie burn. By eating small meals frequently throughout the day, you can maximize this calorie burn and get your metabolism revving. Start your day off right by eating a relatively low-calorie breakfast high in quality proteins and carbohydrates.

Curb your hunger

Study after study indicates that individuals who regularly eat breakfast are more likely to eat fewer calories and gain less weight than those who regularly skip the morning meal. When you eat first thing in the morning, you curb your hunger and prevent yourself from overeating later in the day. This is particularly true if you eat a breakfast full of fiber, healthy fat and protein. Items like whole wheat bread with peanut butter, an egg sandwich or oatmeal served with dried fruit and nuts are smart and healthy choices.

Article by Laura Williams