Breakfast is considered as an important meal because it breaks the overnight fasting period, replenishes your supply

[the_ad id=”6114″]of glucose and provides other essential nutrients to keep your energy levels up throughout the day. Various studies have shown that eating a healthy breakfast can help give you:

• Nutritionally complete diet, higher in nutrients, vitamins and minerals
• Improved concentration and performance
• More strength and endurance to engage in physical activity 

Breakfast restores glucose levels, an essential carbohydrate that is needed for the brain to function. Studies have shown that eating breakfast can improve memory and concentration levels and can improve mood and lower stress levels. According to the American Dietetic Association, children who eat breakfast perform better in the classroom and on the playground, with better concentration, improve attainment, behavior and problem-solving skills

Some people skip breakfast in an effort to lose weight or due to hectic schedules, which is not a good idea. Skipping your breakfast can lead to various health complications like:

1. Diabetes: If you skip your breakfast, it could put you at the risk of developing type 2 diabetes as it may lead to chronic insulin resistance. A lot of studies have shown that people who skipped breakfast had higher blood sugar levels during lunch.
2. Weight gain: Skipping meals, especially breakfast, can actually make weight control more difficult. Large meals are more likely to lead to weight gain than smaller, more frequent meals. This is because excess calories eaten during one sitting are stored as body fat. People who skip breakfast are usually ravenous by lunchtime and tend to eat more to compensate, or nibble on high-calorie snacks to stave off hunger.
3. Heart disease: People who have a healthy breakfast has a much lower risk of heart trouble than the ones who skip it. Skipping breakfast leads to hypertension, obesity, high blood pressure and high cholesterol which slowly and gradually develop into heart diseases.
4. Migraine: Skipping breakfast is one of the worst triggers for a migraine. So is being dehydrated. Therefore, you must ensure that you walk out of your house only after eating a light meal.
5. Affects mood and cognitive function: Avoiding breakfast can have a negative impact on your mood and of course your energy. Studies have shown that people who skip breakfast have poor memory skills and high levels of fatigue.

Some suggested healthy breakfast options are:

• Oats porridge and sprouts
• Cottage cheese (paneer) stuffed toast with milkshake of toned milk
• Missi roti with curd or chaach
• Besan or dal cheela with toast and toned milk
• Idli with sambar and curd
• Porridge/cornflakes with Egg
• Smoothie

For all your loved ones who skip breakfast regularly, do spread this message of the importance of having breakfasts and make them aware of healthy food options.