Released May 8, 2009
JONESBORO, Ark. - Perhaps the most important reason to eat breakfast each morning comes from the body's need for energy, says Debbie DeRossitte, Craighead County extension agent with the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture.
"Breakfast literally means ‘break the fast'," she says. "Your body has gone without food for eight hours or more and it needs nutrients to get started again."
A healthy breakfast replenishes glucose levels, also known as blood sugar, giving the body the energy it needs to start a new day. A growing body of evidence suggests that breakfast is good for mental as well as physical health.
People who eat a healthy breakfast each day are more likely to:
- Consume more vitamins and minerals. Regular eating can result in adding more favorable nutrients and less detrimental ones to the daily diet.
- Concentrate better and be more productive. A healthy breakfast helps replenish glucose, the brain's main energy source.
- Control their weight. Several theories exist to support this idea. One theory says that eating breakfast may reduce hunger later. Another says eating breakfast may cause people to choose less-dense foods.
- Have more strength and endurance. People who eat breakfast have higher energy levels and may engage in more physical activity than those who skip the morning meal.
- Reduce the risk of heart disease. People who eat breakfast generally consume less fat and cholesterol than those who skip breakfast.
Breakfast is called the most important meal of the day for a reason, and its positive effects are noticeable especially in children, says DeRossitte. According to the American Dietetic Association, children who eat breakfast are more likely to have better concentration, problem-solving skills and hand-eye coordination. They may also be more alert and creative, and less likely to miss days from school.
That's a great incentive to start the day off full and focused.
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http://www.uaex.edu/news/may2009/0508nutrition_breakfast.htm
Contact: Elizabeth Fortune, (501) 671-2120, efortune@uaex.edu