Although the morning hours may be a time of rushed preparations for work or getting the kids to school, eating breakfast is indeed a great way to start the day -- for both adults and children. Breakfast earns its oft-quoted name of "the most important meal of the day" in a variety of ways, which can greatly enhance the quality of your day as well as your overall health.
A Healthy Energy Boost
Eating a healthy breakfast is crucial to jump-starting your metabolism and keeping you energized throughout your day. While you sleep, your body is in a state of fasting. Your body's metabolism needs fuel soon after you wake up to start converting the foods you eat into the energy your body uses to maintain healthy tissues and regulate organ function. Eating foods rich in complex carbohydrates, such as whole-grain toast or cereal, as well as lean protein sources, including low-fat milk and yogurt, will get your metabolism started for optimal energy levels.
Breakfast and Essential Nutrients
Breakfast is also a vital meal from which to get plenty of essential vitamins, minerals and healthy antioxidants. Incorporating fruits, such as oranges and raspberries, will up your body's levels of calcium, vitamin C and antioxidants. Leafy green vegetables, broccoli and carrots are key foods to include in a healthy breakfast for a wide variety of nutrients including vitamin B-12, calcium, iron and dietary fiber.
Weight Loss and Health Benefits
Starting your day off the right way with breakfast is integral in keeping you trim. According to Harvard Medical School, people who skip breakfast may have increased risk for obesity -- by a factor of up to four times that of someone who eats breakfast regularly. Because obesity poses health risks, including the potential for Type 2 diabetes and heart attack, eating breakfast may help fight these long-term concerns. A balanced, hearty breakfast also has the potential to ward off long-term medical problems, such as stroke and heart disease, reports the Montana Department of Health and Human Services.
Breakfast and Cognitive Function
A healthy breakfast improves your physical health and also enhances your thinking ability throughout the day. Breakfast fuels your brain as well as your body to keep it functioning properly. A nutritious, balanced breakfast each day is especially crucial for children and adolescents; according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, kids who don't eat breakfast often have exhibit poor intellectual performance as well as increased potential for behavioral problems and difficulty excelling academically.
References
- Johns Hopkins University: Why You Should Eat a Healthy Breakfast
- Harvard Health Publications; Weight Loss and Breakfast: Breakfast Benefits Health and Can Aid in Weight Loss; February 2005
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Nutrition and the Health of Young People; Oct. 20, 2008
- Montana Department of Health and Human Services; Breakfast Makeover Offers Major Benefits; Feb. 8, 2008
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