Why Breakfast Is Key to a Healthier Lifestyle

By , SparkPeople Blogger
You may have heard the phrase "breakfast is the most important meal of the day" numerous times before. Unfortunately, not everyone has breakfast in the morning and inevitably, this damages their health in the process. Even if you live a busy lifestyle, having breakfast in the morning can contribute to healthier living. Below are some useful tips that can help you enjoy breakfast despite a busy lifestyle and can show you how vital breakfast really is. 

Breakfast Kick Starts Your Metabolism, Gives You Energy and Helps You Focus

Breakfast is important for three main reasons: Our cognitive functioning, energy needs and long-term health. Without breakfast, these functions could suffer in the following ways:

Cognitive Functioning

When you have breakfast, the body starts to restore your glucose levels. Glucose is an important carbohydrate that plays an important role in brain functioning. Eating a good breakfast can promote your memory, your concentration and even improve your mood. In addition to that, having breakfast can also reduce your stress levels.

Energy Supply

Having breakfast in the morning will supply you with the energy needed to function properly. Without that energy, you may start to feel lethargic and fatigued, which could have a negative influence on the activities you are doing that morning. 

Long-Term Health

A good breakfast can have an impact on your long-term health. The National Health Service in the United States has stated that eating a healthy breakfast can reduce obesity, high blood pressure, heart disease and even diabetes, so do not skip on breakfast if you want to stay happy and healthy for a long time to come. 

What Should I Eat for Breakfast?

Making smart choices is a big part of having a healthy breakfast. By eating the right foods, you can get the right number of vitamins and minerals that will give you benefits for the rest of day. But what do you have to eat for breakfast to enjoy these benefits?

Fruits

There are several healthy foods that can contribute to your health and help you maintain your ideal weight. The first superfood everyone should have for breakfast is a piece of fruit. Studies executed at the Washington State University showed that test subjects gained 40 percent less weight when given a substance called resveratrol, an antioxidant that is present in most types of fruit.

Fatty Fish

Contrary to popular belief, you can have a fatty fish such as salmon and mackerel for breakfast. Fatty fish contains high levels of omega-3 fatty acids, which can protect your heart against heart disease or cardiovascular-related illnesses. To get the best results from fish in your diet, it is recommended to eat a fatty fish for breakfast at least twice a week.

Eggs

Another great breakfast food is an egg, because it contains six grams of useful protein. However, it is best not to eat too many eggs over the course of the week, considering they also contain cholesterol. Of course, the occasional egg for breakfast is totally fine.

Oatmeal

Oatmeal may not be the preferred breakfast of most people, but it is actually quite nutritious and useful for people trying to lose weight. Researchers at the Louisiana State University discovered that people consuming oatmeal for breakfast felt fuller longer and were more able to control their appetite.

Avocado

People with a preference for Mexican flavor should consider incorporating avocado into their breakfast. Avocados are packed with numerous healthy fats and vitamins and studies have shown that people consuming avocado for breakfast found it easier to maintain a healthier weight and also had a lower risk of developing the metabolic syndrome.

Nuts 

Many people avoid nuts because they believe they contain a considerable amount of oil that is bad for their health. However, nuts are actually good for you, considering the amount of healthy fat and protein they contain.

Walnuts in particular can be a great addition to your breakfast routine. People who do not like fish but still want to have some omega-3s can obtain it from walnuts. If you do not like walnuts on their own, you can add them to a bowl of oatmeal or mix them with some delicious dried fruit.

What If I Don’t Have Time for a Healthy Breakfast?

One of the biggest obstacles people encounter when it comes to having breakfast is time. Fortunately, there are many ways for you to have a healthy breakfast on the go or even have your breakfast prepared for you without having to spend an immense amount of money.

People who are too busy to eat healthy, but still want to lose weight, should consider getting a meal plan and their meals delivered by an experienced weight loss consultant. Jenny Craig is a prime example of this, since this weight loss consultant does not only give you the support, but also the tools you need to succeed despite a busy lifestyle.

Can Breakfast Translate into Weight Loss?

To lose weight successfully and keep it off, breakfast is absolutely essential. Of course, you cannot expect weight loss success through healthy breakfast alone. Here are some additional tips to help you lose excess fat.

Exercise

You may have heard it a million times before, but exercise is essential to your success. If you are out of shape, remember that you do not have to run a marathon to experience the benefits of exercise. Simply pick something you enjoy and make sure you have plenty of exercise each week to gain muscle and burn fat.

Count Your Calories

Counting calories gives you an exact idea of what you have been eating and what you need to eat to lose weight. For some people, counting calories can be too time-consuming, in which case, they can take advantage of a weight loss consultant that does the counting for them.

People who do not mind counting calories themselves will find numerous apps online that will help them keep track of their food consumption. Some of these apps also give you helpful tips on how to achieve your target weight in a healthy way.