The importance of eating breakfast for everyone in the family
Whether you’re off to school or the office, starting your day with a wholesome breakfast is essential. It kick starts your metabolism and fuels your body with the necessary nutrients that it needs to function optimally; not to mention it sets a good example for your children.
According to the American Dietetic Association, children who eat breakfast perform better in the classroom and on the playground with better concentration, problem-solving skills, and eye-hand coordination.
Eating breakfast may also reduce your hunger later in the day, which makes it easier to avoid overeating. “After a healthy breakfast your blood sugar increases a little bit, but it will take a while for your body to absorb it,” says Eric Rimm, Sc.D., a professor of epidemiology and nutrition at the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston. “So you might not be hungry for lunch for five hours.”
Not only will eating breakfast keep the body satiated longer, it has been proven to enhance workout performance. The more fuel the body has, the more it can perform. “A healthy breakfast refuels your body and replenishes the glycogen stores that supply your muscles with immediate energy,” states the Mayo Clinic. They go on to say, “routinely skipping breakfast is associated with decreased physical activity.”
Skipping meals, especially breakfast, sends signals to the brain that the body is starving; triggering stress hormones to be released which in turn creates havoc on the body’s hormone levels and digestive system.
Whether you’re tight for time or trying to cut back on your calories, you may want to reconsider skipping breakfast.
References: American Dietetic Association: Zelman, K. (2007, August 29). The Many Benefits of Breakfast.
Mayo Clinic: Zeratsky, K. (2015, February 18).
About the Author: Giselle Birang received her Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Studies with an emphasis in Journalism Broadcast from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. Shortly after graduating, Giselle knew she wanted to pursue her passion in the health and wellness industry. She started working in public relations and marketing for a fitness production company where she was able to help brainstorm fitness choreography, cooking and nutrition demos and creative promotional ideas for specific brands. She later decided to work on the fitness floor after she received her Stott Pilates certification, NASM Personal Training certification and AFAA Primary Group Exercise certification. It’s no secret that both health and fitness are her passion, but more importantly, that she takes pride on effectively communicating holistic health and wellness to others. Now, working for BaySport’s Corporate Wellness Division as the Wellness Communications Specialist, Giselle gets to marry both her creative ideas for fitness and health with that of writing and communicating wellness to the corporate world.
