The Importance of Breakfast (Weight! Don’t tell me!)

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Breakfast is the first chance the body has to refuel its glucose levels, also known as blood sugar, after eight to 12 hours without a meal or snack. Glucose is essential for the brain and is the main energy source. People who do not take breakfast are going to have lower blood sugar level. This leads to an insufficient supply of nutrients to the brain causing brain degeneration. (from http://www.healthmad.com)

The first thing many people do when they want to lose a little weight is to skip breakfast and skimp on lunch. Then they go crazy at night and chow down with too little time left to metabolize those calories before sleep. Skipping breakfast causes the body to go into a “starvation mode” which slows the metabolism, contributing to weight gain.

The American Dietetic Association says breakfast is the most important meal of the day.Despite the healthful benefits, breakfast may be the meal that is most often neglected or skipped. Eating breakfast not only aids in weight management, it fuels the body to help provide energy, better concentration and problem-solving ability throughout the day, according to the food and nutrition experts at the American Dietetic Association.

Forty years of breakfast related studies show that jump starting the day with breakfast benefits everyone — children, teens and adults. “Eating breakfast is very important for the brain and the body first thing in the morning”, said Los Angeles registered dietitian Gail Frank, spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association. “Breakfast skippers often feel tired, restless or irritable in the morning.” (http://www.bellybytes.com/articles/breakfast2.shtml)

If you want to maintain a good weight, the first thing to do, is to adjust the “when” of your eating rather than the “what.” Of course you want to eat healthier foods, but many people try to eat better while continuing bad habits about WHEN they eat. Changing the “what” often needs to be addressed with patience and study, so get going with this simple when approach right off the bat and you will be in better shape for the long haul.

Of course there are some breakfasts that are healthier than others, but the important first step is to eat one!