Breakfast

The start of a New Year always prompts us to take stock of our lifestyles, diet, fitness levels, work/life balance, relationships & alcohol consumption are a few of the popular areas we focus on. Most New Year resolutions fall by the wayside within the first 3 months, our expectations of life changing new habits “new year - new you” & actual reality clash.

2021 New Year resolutions were always going to be a non starter - given the stress level inflicted by 2020 - I’ve not seen one social media post declaring #2021mybestyearyet - it’s a bit of a marketing blow for the fitness industry cliché of building the “summer body” not much point if the nearest to a hot sandy beach you’ll get is the kids sandpit in the back garden on a rare Irish not a cloud in the sky kind of day.

All that said - I love a good challenge so I’m brimming with optimism and have not only taken on #nojunkjanuary but #dryjanuary #2021doyourworst

Part of #nojunkjanuary is ensuring a healthy breakfast - not necessarily first thing but within the first two hours of waking up - there’s significant evidence that eating a sensible plate in the a.m. has benefits that last well beyond your morning routine, so regardless what 2021 throws our way - start making small achievable changes to a healthier lifestyle by resolving to #eatbreakfast

Here are some great reasons why:

YOU’RE LITERALLY BREAKING A FAST.

The period between your last pre-bed meal and hitting the alarm is usually the longest stretch of time your body goes without fuel. Eating within two hours of waking up can impact how levels of glucose (blood sugar), and the insulin that brings glucose to cells to be used for energy, are regulated for the remainder of the day. Skip breakfast, and it isn’t just your body running on empty: It’s your brain, too. Plus, the longer you put it off, the hungrier you’ll be when you actually sit down to eat. Stuffing yourself with unhealthy treats in an attempt to satiate your hunger will cause your glucose to ebb and flow, creating unsteady energy levels and the potential for more overeating.

IT CAN REDUCE YOUR RISK OF HEART DISEASE.

People who skip breakfast tend to overeat the rest of the time—and overeating is an obvious culprit in unwanted weight gain, which can lead to high cholesterol and blood pressure issues. Studies have shown that breakfast eaters have lower incidences of heart disease than “skippers.”

IT KEEPS YOU TUNED IN.

Your brain loves the energy it extracts from meals, making a sensible a.m. bowl of oatmeal just as important for focus and concentration as it is for physical exertion.

PROTEIN IN THE MORNING CURBS DESIRES LATER.

Research shows that a breakfast high in protein—such as an omelet or Greek yogurt—is more likely to keep you fuller longer, preventing you from overeating or making poor food choices later on.

IT PUTS YOU AT REDUCED RISK FOR DIABETES.

People who skip breakfast tend to over-compensate later on in the day, leading to larger, less nutritious meals that can wreak havoc on insulin levels.

YOU’LL LOSE WEIGHT BY EATING MORE.

If you restrict your largest meal to breakfast, you’re on your way to shedding pounds.