The disadvantages of not having
breakfast
If you deprive your body of food in the
morning you may find that you feel tired, dizzy and irritable and that your
concentration is poor. It may take you longer to carry out tasks or you just
might not feel up to anything mentally strenuous let alone physical. You will
probably find yourself snapping at people unintentionally, especially if under
stress and you will no doubt soon start to feel pangs of hunger as the morning
wears on.
If you don't eat anything in the morning,
you will most likely find yourself craving something sweet to eat, as your body
cries out for a quick fix to boost energy levels. If you are at work and it is
not yet time for lunch, this is one of the moments when you may find yourself
reaching for something very unhealthy such as a chocolate bar, croissant, cream
cake or other unhealthy snacks. For those who are watching their weight, this is
disastrous.
It is also possible that you may become so
hungry that you grab twice as many unhealthy snacks to eat before lunch or even
end up eating all of your packed lunch by 11.30 am.
No breakfast does not equal losing
weight
Some people erroneously think that by
skipping breakfast, they will reduce their calorie intake for the day and that
it will help them to lose weight.
Not only are you giving your body the
worst possible start in the morning and putting it under unnecessary pressure,
this is also not the case.
Missing breakfast often leads to
overeating at some point later on in the day, usually snacking on unhealthy
foods, which are high in calories and fat. You may also become over hungry
mid-morning and by lunchtime could end up eating twice as much than if you had
eaten a healthy breakfast that released energy slowly throughout the
day.
Three healthy square meals or six smaller
meals a day should keep you going throughout, without having the need to snack
in between.
The disadvantages of not eating an
adequate breakfast
People who start the day with a strong,
sweet cup of coffee and a croissant, Danish pastry or bowl of sugar-loaded
cereal, may think that because they have eaten something, that they are starting
the day well, and providing their body and brain with a good start to the
morning. They may also wonder why, their energy boost doesn't last very long and
why they are ravenous mid-morning even after having consumed breakfast first
thing.
This is because although they did make
time to have breakfast, their breakfast choice was very poor.
Caffeine, as we all know, gives you
instant energy and many people feel that they cannot start the morning or even
go through the day without at least several shots! In actual fact, caffeine
produces adrenaline, which sends some of the body's stored glucose to the
brain.
Cereals high in sugar have very little
nutritional value. When eaten their high amounts of sugar are released almost
immediately into the bloodstream (sugar fix) and provide an instant energy
boost.
Together with the caffeine, blood sugar
(glucose) levels rocket and energy levels soar.
The downside of this effect is that the
energy boost is extremely short-lived. As the pancreas responds to this surge of
glucose, it produces insulin in order to bring the levels back down to a
reasonable amount.
This means that a few hours after this
unhealthy breakfast, you are left feeling tired and hungry again and in need of
another quick sugar fix.
The advantages of a healthy and
nutritious breakfast
After a good night's sleep and with an
empty stomach in the morning, it makes sense that the best way to start the day
and to energize and revitalize your body, is with a filling, nutritious and
healthy breakfast that will keep you satiated until the next meal.
Our body needs a healthy breakfast packed
full of vitamins and nutrients whilst also providing energy and fuel for the
brain.
The best types of foods to be eaten at
breakfast are complex carbohydrates such as whole grains including oats, rye
bread and millet together with a small amount of dried fruit and freshly
squeezed juice.
These foods have a low GI (glycaemic
index), which means that they release glucose steadily and slowly into the
bloodstream, unlike the unhealthier breakfast choices mentioned earlier.
Consequently, these foods will keep you fuller for longer, prevent unhealthy
snacking, keep energy levels steady without dipping and provide you with
essential vitamins and minerals that may be missed at other meals.
Many people like to consume some form of
protein in the morning, as protein balances blood sugar levels and recent
studies have also proven that concentration levels are enhanced if some form of
protein in consumed during the breakfast meal.
Excellent sources of protein, which can be
incorporated into the breakfast meal are eggs, fish, nuts and seeds. Eggs are a
particularly rich source of choline (B vitamin), which the body converts into
acetyl-choline, a neurotransmitter found in the brain.
Studies show that adults and children who
eat breakfast in the morning perform better at school and at work. It is proven
that with breakfast, concentration and memory improve, mental performance and
problem-solving ability is better and learning ability is
increased.
Not only this but studies generally prove
that most people who eat breakfast manage their weight better, are not obese or
overweight, have lower levels of cholesterol, which means they are less likely
to suffer from heart disease and are generally in better health overall, not to
mention in better mood.
In children, their concentration and
productivity at school is better and they are more creative, interested and
alert.
Warning: The reader
of this article should exercise all precautionary measures while following
instructions on the home remedies from this article. Avoid using any of these
products if you are allergic to it. The responsibility lies with the reader and
not with the site or the writer.
This information is solely for
informational purposes. IT IS NOT INTENDED TO PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE and should
not be treated as a substitute for the medical advice of your own
doctor.
