We often hear that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. However, do you know what happens to your body after eating a healthy breakfast? Aside from improving your overall heath, eating a healthy morning meal helps you to focus, to make smart decisions and satisfies your appetite to help you avoid overeating later in the day.
“The literal meaning of breakfast is really breaking the fasting period of the night before. The span of time between your dinner and your next meal is long, perhaps 7 to 8 hours. That’s why it’s important to eat breakfast within 2 hours of waking up. In addition to starvation and low-energy levels, skipping breakfast can also make you binge and snack excessively later in the day, which can lead to other serious health problems like obesity, ” said Dr. Nicky Montoya, president and CEO of MediCard.
Here are more reasons why you shouldn’t skip breakfast:
- It improves memory and concentration. Eating a healthy breakfast boosts your memory and concentration, especially at work and at school. According to research, eating breakfast leads to better cognitive performance, helping you concentrate more. It also restores glucose levels. Glucose is an important carbohydrate that is needed for the brain to function properly. “A healthy breakfast helps you have better coordination and problem-solving skills,” says Dr. Montoya.
- It keeps you energized. Breakfast is the perfect time to fuel your body with vitamins and nutrients to keep you energized through the day. Keeping your energy levels high will help you accomplish all your responsibilities efficiently and eating a nutritious breakfast is essential for this. Try having eggs, yogurt, cereal or fruits in the morning.
- It helps lower cholesterol levels. Studies show that people who skip breakfast are more likely to have worse cholesterol levels and insulin sensitivity than breakfast eaters. This is because eating nutritious foods for breakfast helps you eat smaller meals and avoid fatty food throughout the day.
- It boosts metabolism and controls weight. While you sleep, your metabolism slows down and burns less calories. A great way to kick start your metabolism is by having a healthy breakfast to allow your body to start burning calories as soon as you start your day. In addition to faster metabolism, eating breakfast also helps you control your weight. When you consume high-protein meals during breakfast, you will feel fuller, hence, avoiding overeating later in the day. Just make sure that your breakfast is loaded with nutrients and not with fat and empty calories.
- It puts you in a positive mood. Sleeping for 8 hours or so usually mean that you’re starving when you wake up. Starvation can really put you in a bad mood. That can be easily dealt with by eating a healthy breakfast. Dr. Montoya recommends having mood-boosting food for breakfast like berries (e.g. blueberries or strawberries), whole wheat pancakes and a banana smoothie with nuts and flaxseed.
For more nutrition advice, make an appointment with your doctor or nutritionist.
MediCard has numerous free-standing clinics located in key cities nationwide that offer consultations. Visit a MediCard clinic near you or check out their website at www.medicardphils.com for more information.
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