We have all heard it before; “Breakfast is the most important meal of the day”. But is it really that important, or just something people have been saying for decades without really knowing why. Sometimes it’s just easier to hit the snooze button in the morning and tell ourselves that more sleep would be a better use of our time.

Eating breakfast literally means “to break the fast”. Eating a breakfast ignites your metabolism, rebalances your blood sugar levels, and prevents over eating later in the day. It is major factor is weight loss, energy and mood.

Eating a healthy balanced breakfast:

Restarts your body after fasting and gets it energized:

Eating a well balanced breakfast that includes protein, carbohydrates, and fat provides the fuel for your body to get moving and functioning optimally for the day. It is like gas is for your car, it gets your metabolic engine revved up and ready to get you through the day with vitality. A well balanced breakfast can also help you get rid of brain fog and morning sluggishness.

Helps to reduce the risk of heart disease, obesity, and diabetes:

Keeping your blood sugar balanced is a key factor in prevention of these conditions. Consuming a healthy breakfast brings your sugar levels back to normal after going so long without food. The key is to eat within a half hour of waking.

Boosts your brain power:

A  nutrient power packed breakfast contributes to alertness and focus throughout the day, as long as it is not  high in refined sugar. Include nuts and seeds as part of your morning meal. These foods are high in Omega 3 which is a key nutrient for brain health, memory and cognition. Not to mention it makes your skin glow.

 Prevents you from grabbing sugary snacks later in the day:

Skipping breakfast can make you reach for that donut or pastry from the break room at work. Trouble is, once you eat that sugary processed food item, it sends you on a rollercoaster of needing more sugar all day and keeping you addicted. Combine these poor eating habits with sitting all day at work and you are looking at an unwanted recipe for weight gain! A great tip to help reduce sugar cravings, keep your energy levels up and help you feel fuller longer is to include foods high in fiber as part of your breakfast. Whole wheat toast or a piece of fruit make great fiber sources.

Leaves you nutrient deficient:

Skipping breakfast keeps you behind the ball in regard to the vitamins and minerals your body needs for the day. These missing nutrients are mandatory for your body to rebuild your cells and insure optimal body function. And try as you might, you may not be able to catch up on these missing nutrients by the end of the day.

Eating breakfast does not have to be complicated or time consuming. You can grab a quick protein and fruit smoothie made with hemp seeds and a handful of leafy greens, or even left over’s from last night’s dinner. My favorite nutrient packed, energy boosting breakfast on the run is a good quality granola mixed with creamy plain Greek yogurt top off with berries.  Look for a nutrient dense granola mix that includes nuts, seeds and an antioxidant rich super food such as blueberries. Enjoy your breakfast!

*Image above is courtesy of google images