What if I were to tell you that you needed to start eating in order to lose weight? When it comes to breakfast, that all-important first meal of the day, it really is true. The familiar saying, “Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dinner like a pauper” has a lot of truth to it. But even going beyond the discussion of weight loss, eating breakfast provides a lot of other benefits nutritionally.
In fact, eating breakfast is so important that eating a bad breakfast is probably better than skipping it all together. We need carbohydrates and proteins soon after waking in order to maintain a high level of cognitive abilities from our brain. After going all night without food, our system is also depleted of calories, which sends this signal of starvation to our metabolism, telling it to slow down as well. It’s this built-in survival mechanism within us that allows our body to function with less calories.
Our digestive system needs fiber and fluids to begin its job of removing harmful bacteria, toxins and fats from our intestinal tract. Also, our muscles need protein so that our bodies do not begin to feed off of them as an energy source. Any long-term habit of skipping breakfast can create a sort of perfect storm when we look at the combined problems it can cause. Hundreds of studies, anecdotal evidence and fitness experts have all chimed in with their pros and cons on this subject. So, let’s take a look at some of the most common reasons why breakfasts are beneficial, why skipping breakfast may not be such a great idea, and a few healthy breakfast suggestions.
You’re Still Just A Big Kid:
Several children’s studies have shown measurable differences in the learning abilities and nutritional blood levels of kids that eat breakfast when compared to the kids that don’t. These studies found that kids who missed breakfast were at greater risk for illness, had reduced concentration, lowered retention of information, and were overweight as compared to their BMI index.
Saving Morning Calories Is A Myth:
Numerous studies have indicated that people who skip breakfast tend to replace those calories later during the day, often in the form of unhealthy snack bingeing. It’s this type of thinking that is frequently used as the biggest justification to skip the first meal of the day… but it never works.
Breakfast Skippers Have Bad Breath:
Even I couldn’t make this stuff up. The above statement proves that there are studies for just about everything! But according to this university study it’s true, so please – do everyone around you a favor, and eat your breakfast!
Skipping Breakfast Slows Down Your Metabolism
I know, you’ve heard this a thousand times and it’s getting old. Sleeping puts you in an all-night fast, morning blood sugars are low… blah, blah, blah. Forget all these so-called studies and just type, “Sumo Wrestlers Diet” into google. I rest my case.
Your Body Needs Nutrients
Skipping breakfast makes it very difficult to give our body the essential vitamins, minerals, fats and antioxidants it needs. Even for excellent eaters, it’s tough to eat enough nutrient-dense foods to get what we need throughout the day, let alone when we skip a meal. The nutritional boost you give yourself with a healthy breakfast is critical for your immune system, your brain, and skin.
Healthy Choices For Breakfast
Now that we’ve established the importance of eating a healthy morning meal, lets take a look at these suggestions by leading nutritionists. These are mostly just category groups to remember, but serve as good guidelines to follow.
- Be sure to include fiber: oatmeal, whole grain cereal, bran muffins.
- Have a piece of fruit with your morning meal. Fresh squeezed or pulpy orange juice is OK too.
- Don’t forget protein: eggs, cheese, meat, protein supplements.
- Probiotics in the form of active yogurt cultures or supplements.
- Calcium is more bioavailable when taken with vitamin C. Try milk, oranges, yogurts.
Isagenix IsaLean Shake – Get the Best Breakfast on the Planet
If you want to ensure you and your family are getting a balanced, low-carb, high-protein, nutrient-packed breakfast, the Isalean Shake, available from Isagenix Canada (www.timetocleanse.com/ca/), is the ideal choice.
The IsaLean Shake comes in vanilla and chocolate flavours, and as well as tasting great, contains high quality whey protein and all of the building blocks and nutrients your body needs to get you through the day.