Breakfast divides opinion among many, with some touting it as the most important meal of the day, while others feel they don’t have enough time or would rather snack through until lunchtime or simply couldn’t face the thought of food in the morning. Whatever your preference, we have put together a list of some points and considerations that will enlighten you on the benefits breakfast can have on your short and long term mental and physical health, whilst also sharing some breakfast ideas for you to consider and add to your morning routine.

Benefits of Having breakfast

Energy Levels

Your body’s main source of energy comes from glucose which is broken down and absorbed from the carbohydrates you eat, and the body then goes on to store most of this energy as fat. The body will also store some of the glucose as glycogen. When sleeping, glycogen is broken down by your liver and released into your bloodstream to help keep your blood sugar levels stable. In the morning your glycogen levels are low therefore, eating breakfast boosts your energy levels and restores your glycogen levels, so they are ready to keep your metabolism boosted for the day, therefore making you feel more energised and ready for the day ahead.

Vitamins Minerals and Nutrients

Many breakfast foods are packed with important vitamins, minerals and nutrients that can only be gained from consuming them. Foods like cereal, wholegrain bread, porridge, eggs, fruits, and milk are all great examples of the types of food that will help replenish your body with the key essentials to make you feel healthy and revitalised in the mornings and to help see you through till lunch time.

Improved Brain Function and Concentration Levels

Have you ever felt sluggish in the mornings when skipping breakfast? This is because your brain has not received the sufficient energy it needs to get itself going for the day which can be gained from consuming breakfast. Studies have shown that eating breakfast will improve your concentration, memory and energy for the day and the reason for this is because eating first thing in the morning helps to raise and sustain your blood sugar levels after they have been drained during sleep.

Can Help Prevent Type 2 Diabetes

Researchers have found that skipping breakfast even just once a week can increase your chances by 6% of developing type 2 diabetes and for people skipping breakfast upwards of four times a week the numbers rise to a staggering 55% chance. The reason for this is that there is a strong link between type 2 diabetes, blood sugar and insulin. Skipping food in the morning can lead to your body becoming more insulin resistant, which means that your body requires more insulin to bring blood sugar levels to a norm. When your body’s insulin resistance levels become chronic, there becomes a major risk of type 2 diabetes.

Helps Fight Daytime Cravings

Breakfast can help keep your cravings at bay by fuelling you with the right foods in the morning to see you through to lunch instead of heading to the vending machine for a quick guilty fix. Avoiding your guilty cravings and eating a healthy breakfast will help to improve your mood by knowing what your putting into your body is healthy and sustainable rather than a piece of chocolate or a bag of crisps.

Ideas for Healthy Breakfasts

Many people like the idea of a healthy well-balanced breakfast but may not ever got round to making their perfect breakfast, so here are some ideas to spark some though for your favourite breakfast foods-

• Wholegrain cereal is a good option if you don’t have a lot of time on your hands but still want a breakfast that will give you a slow release of energy throughout the day.
• Natural yogurt with fruit is another good breakfast which will provide your body with all the right nutrients to start your day, you could also add honey to improve the taste.
• Wholegrain or sourdough toast or a bagel with egg, salmon and avocado is another great breakfast looks and tastes good and will provide you with a good amount of protein if you are looking to achieve a certain amount of protein intake for the day.
• Smoothies are a great on-the-go breakfast that you can consume anywhere if you don’t have much time in the mornings. You can put a wide range of fruit, yogurt, oats and sweeteners into your smooth to help find your favourite taste that will fuel you for the day.

The reasons in favour of squeezing a breakfast in mount up to show us that breakfast is a very important meal, regardless of if it’s the most important meal of the day to you. Studies lead us to believe those who are eating breakfast are feeling better physically and mentally in the short and long term. Incorporating breakfast into your daily routine, whether it be at the table or on the go can only be a good thing for you and your body.

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