Break-The-Fast
Let’s be honest breakfast can be on the bottom of our priority list. Maybe your not hungry first thing in the morning? Maybe you feel so rushed that you grab a coffee instead and call it good? Would if changing one small thing in the morning, could lead to a healthier version of you?
Breakfast provides the body and brain with fuel after a night of fasting, hence the origins of the name-breaking the fast! Without breakfast you are no doubt running on empty. It’s like trying to start your hair dyrer without the power cord.
Here are 3 benefits of eating a healthy breakfast every day:
1. Activity Boost
Eating a healthy breakfast in the morning can help boost your activity levels on a daily basis. When we eat a breakfast that has a caloric value of 20 to 35 percent of our daily limit, and it consists of foods rich in vitamins or protein like eggs, fruit, veggies and milk, we have more sustainable energy for the morning and our metabolism is active. When we skip breakfast we get sluggish.
2. Maintaining Weight
As we sleep, our metabolic rate slows down since we aren’t using as much energy as while awake. When we wake, we need that metabolic jumpstart with a protein- and vitamin-rich breakfast to break the slow metabilisim. As that metabolic rate stays slow when we do not eat breakfast, we have leftover energy that can turn into additional weight. Some experts argue that not eating breakfast can lead to obesity and type 2 diabetes.
3. Improved Memory
Eating breakfast first thing in the morning raises our blood sugar which causes an increase in alertness and concentration. Low glycemic breakfasts—which could include oatmeal, high-fiber cereals or whole grain breads—improve memory in adolescents. Foods with omega-3 fatty acids can help boost your memory. Try adding flaxseed to your smoothie in the morning.
Breakfast doesn’t need to take more than a couple extra minutes in the morning. You wouldn’t skip brushing your teeth so why would you skip breakfast.
Here a few simple suggestions, that can help shake up your morning routine.
-The evening before boil and peel a few hard boiled eggs, so they're ready to pop in a bag and out the door.
-Breakfast sandwiches are easy to throw together and you can make them in bulk and freeze them to have them in the morning.
-Preparing smoothie contents and freezing them in sandwich bags makes it easy to pop them in the blender before putting it in a to-go cup.
-Breakfast doesn’t have to be “breakfast food”
If your craving the leftover spaghetti and meatballs GO FOR IT!
The most important thing to remember is to fuel your body first thing in the morning. Rehydrate will a full glass of water, EAT your breakfast, then have that cup of coffee. Drinking your coffee after you eat can help improve metabolism.
Jody Alar
Diva Den Studio Instructor
