Start your day right

Believe it or not, even as we sleep, our body fuels keep our heart beating, our eyes blinking and our cells nourished. Where does this energy come from? Most of it is from the stores of glucose in our blood, liver and muscles. Imagine–all your body’s activities go on even if your last meal was yesterday’s dinner!

By sunrise, our body is already in the fasting mode. Half our body’s glucose has already been drained and it needs to be replenished. We need to break the fast–that’s why we need to eat breakfast.

I still know of many people who skip breakfast. Well, they may still feel okay for a while. The energy can come from a good night’s sleep but when this energy wears off, their bodies will run on empty.

When your blood sugar level drops, you’ll get irritable, lose concentration and begin to feel tired. Thus, you’ll eat anything in sight without thinking because you’re starving. The next thing you’ll most likely do is eat a big lunch–which is not a good idea. Eating a heavy lunch will make you sleepy.

What must one do to avoid all this stress? Simple. Take five to 10 minutes and eat a decent breakfast.

What must we eat? What is a good breakfast? For me, it should be a combination of carbohydrates and protein, one low in sugar and fat, one with lots of fiber, but most importantly, one suited to your taste.

Here are some suggestions:

• Two slices of whole wheat toast with a slice of light cheddar cheese.

• Oatmeal with fruit.

• Whole wheat cereal with skim milk.

• Scrambled eggs with toast.

• Whole wheat bread with tuna (my favorite).

• You can even have rice. Try brown rice. It has more fiber. Have it with sardines or fish.

Be creative.

Now, if you’re in a rush and you have no time to sit down, take your breakfast with you. You can take whole wheat bread with your choice of filling. Make it lean and skip the mayonnaise. Try and use Mrs. Dash’s spices. They have no salt but are so tasty.

If you’ll work out early in the morning, have a lighter breakfast, just enough to give you your boost of energy. You will have a more energetic workout if your body is nourished.

So what are the benefits of breakfast? It helps boost metabolism, improves concentration and results in less craving for fatty food. It’s the meal most likely to provide energy throughout the day.

So when you wake up tomorrow, think of what you might want to have for breakfast. Start your day right! Nourish your body and have the energy you need for the rest of the day.

Good morning!

E-mail me at: babyjackster@hotmail.com.