Page 98 - Vegan Life - Issue 59 (February 2020)

Breakfast

Break

fast

the

Why do we need to eat in the morning?

ith many dietitians and Upon waking, your body’s stores will be our stress hormone, which is activated
doctors saying that breakfast low as a result of having gone without in fight or flight mode. That’s why it’s
Wis the most important meal food, for, sometimes as long as 12 hours, so important to eat something first and
of the day, you might wonder why and they must be replenished to restore then have that cofee later. As soon as we
research shows that nearly half of all your energy levels for the day ahead. eat breakfast (as long as it’s a balanced
Brits regularly skip breakfast (thegrocer. When glycogen stores are depleted, your nutritionally healthy meal) our cortisol
co.uk). People have lots of reasons body will start to break down fatty acids levels are reduced helping us to start the
for missing out on the morning meal, to come up with the energy it needs, and day stress-free and continue as such.”
including not feeling hungry on waking, without carbohydrates, fatty acids are In investigations amongst children,
not having enough time, wanting to only partially oxidised, which can cause eating breakfast has also been shown to
reduce calorie intake and to have more low energy levels. improve attainment and behaviour, and
time in bed. Whatever the excuse, Eating breakfast refills your body’s has even been linked to better grades.
breakfast is important — here’s why, and glycogen stores and consequently boosts
how you can make the most of it. your energy levels, as well as kick-starting Control your appetite
your metabolism for the day. Whilst many people like to think of
Replenish your energy skipping breakfast as a means of cutting
Eating breakfast every morning is Improve performance and mood down on their daily calories, eating in
essential — it literally breaks the Glucose is also an essential carbohydrate the morning is actually more likely to
overnight fasting period, replenishing for cognitive function, with many studies help keep your overall calorie intake
your body’s supply of glucose and showing that eating breakfast improves and weight down. Those who eat
therefore your energy, and it provides memory and concentration, as well as breakfast tend to have more nutritious
vital nutrients to keep these levels up upliting mood and lowering stress levels. diets overall, make better food choices
throughout the day. Mays Al-Ali, nutritionist at healthymays. throughout the day and are less likely to
Glucose is the body’s main energy com explains: “Our diurnal rhythms [the snack on unhealthy options.
source, and ater you eat, it is broken pattern of activity based upon a 24-hour Al-Ali comments: “Some people
down and absorbed from carbohydrates cycle] naturally have a high cortisol think that if you are overweight it
— it is then stored as glycogen in your response as soon as we wake. A lot of makes sense to skip a meal, but by not
muscle tissue and liver. When you sleep, people who skip breakfast automatically eating at regular intervals your body
some of this glycogen is slowly released reach for the cofee, and cafeine then thinks it’s going into food deprivation
to keep your blood sugar levels stable. stimulates the further release of cortisol, conditions, like starvation, and produces

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