Breakfast truly is the most important meal of the day. Eating breakfast not only helps fuel your body and keep you feeling energized during the day, it can improve your overall well-being, improve your mood and provide your body with the nutrients you need to be healthy. Whether you are trying to lose weight, perform better at work or maintain a balanced diet, breakfast can help you reach your goals.
Managing Blood Sugar Levels
Eating breakfast is directly linked to a more stable blood sugar. Carbohydrates and dietary sugars are absorbed into your body as glucose upon digestion and are responsible for maintaining a certain blood sugar level. As you sleep, your body continues to utilize the glucose stores in your body as fuel for metabolic processes and organ function. In the morning, after not eating for many hours, your blood sugar levels can be low. According to the Mayo Clinic, a nutritious breakfast can help your body restore its blood sugar levels and regulate your energy stores.
Metabolism and Weight
Breakfast can also have a positive effect on your weight and metabolic efficiency. High-sugar foods and most carbohydrates cause a spike, then crash, in blood sugar levels. This causes your body to release extra insulin, which then increases fat storage. Foods high in protein and fiber have a less severe impact on your blood sugar, and can provide you with nutritionally-based energy without affecting your insulin amounts and blood sugar. These foods also tend to be lower in calories per gram than high-carbohydrate foods, and often leave you feeling fuller than high-sugar foods, and can help promote a lower daily caloric amount.
Improved Focus
Eating breakfast is also a smart way to improve your focus and mental cognition. Low blood sugar can affect your concentration, alertness and memory. Making time to have a healthy breakfast can increase these functions, as well as your overall performance at work or school. The American Dietetic Association suggests making breakfast a priority for maximum performance throughout the day, by packing breakfasts you can eat on-the-go, or gathering a list of quick and easy breakfast staples to keep stocked in your kitchen.
Healthy Options
Choosing a breakfast high in protein and healthy carbohydrates will ensure you are giving your body the best chance at success throughout the day. For a quick and nutritious breakfast, make a smoothie with yogurt, fruit or healthy additions such as spinach or peanut butter. If you prefer cereal in the mornings, choose cereals with protein and fiber, and less than 10 g of sugar per serving. Eggs, whole wheat toast, oatmeal and even pizza all offer the protein and carbohydrates your body thrives on in the mornings.
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