Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, which is ignored by many people. Many people don’t eat breakfast because they are not aware of the benefits of doing so. However, this is the most important meal of the day and one that you should never miss. Most people, especially those who are working or in school, usually have a cup of coffee or water in the morning and assume that it is enough to get the day started. Contrary to how most people take it, breakfast is supposed to be a balanced meal containing all the three food groups in adequate amounts. Breakfast is something that has been ignored by even professionals. For instance, if you look at most cookbooks, you will find that most of them focus on lunch and dinner menus. Below are some of the benefits of having a well balanced diet each morning.

Enough Nutrients for Muscle Growth and Recovery

If you don’t eat breakfast, the body will begin to breakdown the muscle tissues to release energy needed for different body functions. When you have breakfast, the body will have an adequate supply of energy and thus the muscle tissues will not be broken down. A portion of the breakfast that you eat in the morning will aid in growth of muscle cells. If you don’t eat breakfast, your muscles will be used as the source of energy. If you do eat breakfast then a large portion of the nutrients will be used to build up your muscles. Eating in the morning increases protein synthesis, promoting muscle growth.

Replenishes the Energy Stores

Eating breakfast will help replenish the food stores that were used up while you were at rest. During the eight or ten hours of sleep, there is no food intake and therefore the body will use the stores depending on the amount of energy that you need.

Aids in Weight Loss

If you have been struggling to lose weight then eating breakfast will help. This is because when you eat a balanced meal in the morning, the following happens:

i. Eating in the morning will ensure that the satiety levels are low throughout the day. Eating breakfast will help you eat less as opposed to when you don’t eat it. It reduces cravings for sugary foods especially in the mid morning. Proteins, complex carbohydrates and fiber will keep you full for long periods of time, ensuring that you don’t snack now and then. Eating in the morning acts as a natural appetite suppressant.

ii. Eating in the morning increases the body’s metabolic rates. The food you eat boosts the metabolic action of the enzyme, cells and other units. If you skip breakfast, the body will assume that you are fasting. It will strive to store more sugars and fat. The body will not be anticipating any food and thus it will strive to save as much as it can. If you want to lose weight, you should consider eating your breakfast everyday.

iii. Eating small portions of food throughout the day will also help in weight loss. If you skip breakfast and eat a large portion of food for lunch, you will end up gaining too much weight.

However, eating breakfast will only help in weight loss if one makes the right choices for food they eat. For weight loss to be effective, one has to choose healthy foods and eat them in the right proportion. Exercise is also another factor that should be considered by those who want to lose weight fast.

Provides Energy for the Day Activities

All activities by the human body including thinking require an adequate supply of energy. People who eat breakfast usually perform better at school or work compared to those who don’t. If you will be taking part in physical activities, you will require energy, otherwise the muscles will start to wear out. Children who go to classes after eating breakfast usually perform better than the ones who don’t eat breakfast. At work, you will find that employees who eat breakfast are usually more productive. They think, act and behave better than those who don’t eat breakfast.

Prevents Diseases

By having a balanced meal in the morning, you will be avoiding some serious health problems. Eating breakfast will stabilize metabolism and ensure that the blood sugar level is maintained at the optimal level. Usually when one wakes up, the blood sugar level is low because one hasn’t eaten for many hours. Breakfast helps stabilize the blood sugar levels thus ensuring that one does not develop diabetes. For diabetic patients, breakfast will ensure that the blood sugar level does not fall too low a factor that can lead to a lot of complications and even death. Eating breakfast will also help to reduce the risk of having a heart attack. Usually in the morning before you eat anything, the white blood cells appear to be very sticky. If the stickiness continues, it can result in a blood clot in the bloodstream. A blood clot is one of the major causes of heart attack and you can reduce the chances of getting one by having your breakfast every morning. Therefore, eating breakfast is very important for everyone regardless of age. You don’t have to follow a complicated meal plan when deciding what to eat each morning. All you have to do is to choose foods from each food group. A healthy breakfast should contain carbohydrates, proteins and vitamins. During the weekdays when you don’t have enough time to cook in the morning, you can choose foods that are easy to prepare and then try out more complicated recipes on weekends when you are not very busy.

Source

http://www.burnthefatinnercircle.com/members/Breakfast_Is_The_Most_Important_Meal_of_The_Day_MYTH.cfm

http://www.iconnutrition.co.uk/Blog/Breakfast-really-is-the-most-important-meal-of-the-day-here-is-why

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