Breakfast, being the first meal of the day, is important to kickstart the body’s metabolism. Having a big breakfast and eating most of your calories earlier in the day also helps to manage weight.
The PVMF Breakfast
To be healthy, the body needs seven nutrients on a regular basis; however, the body doesn’t get enough of the other 4 nutrients – protein, vitamins, minerals and fiber (PVMF).
The average Indian breakfast usually lacks protein, vitamins, minerals and fiber (PVMF), while there is an excess of water, carbohydrates and fats. Unfortunately fat is easily deposited due to the typical Indian diet and is hard to get rid of, while the reverse is true of muscle.
This is why nutritionists recommend walking 6000 steps and climbing 250 stairs/steps daily.
A diet rich in PVMF keeps you feeling full for longer, provides immediate energy for your morning’s work, builds muscle, builds immunity and boosts your health.
Why You Should ‘Never Skip’ Breakfast
“Breakfast like a king; lunch like a prince; dinner like a pauper.” An old saying.
A healthy breakfast should consist of the five essential nutrients – carbohydrates (roti, poha, cornflakes); protein (sprouts, milk, eggs); fat (found in every meal), vitamins and minerals (fruits and vegetables). The ideal meal than would be, for instance, cornflakes with milk and fruits, or poha with sprouts.
Skipping breakfast makes the body activate the emergency system in order to obtain fuel and food. Doing this regularly can make you lose muscle tone and impact important body functions.
How does this affect our weight?
When a person starts the day fasting, he/she starts up an energy-saving strategy, because of which the metabolism reduces. The brain does not know how long the fasting will last, whether a few hours or a few days, so it takes upon the most severe restrictive measures.
That’s why if the person decides to have lunch later, the food shall be accepted as an excess, it will deviate towards the “fat reserve” bank and the person will gain weight.
Never ever leave without breakfast, your body will appreciate it and will compensate you with better health, which is something you will enjoy, live a longer and healthier life with your loved ones.
By having an early breakfast, you will have enough energy, which will help your body and mind work better, and reduce stress levels.
Popular Breakfasts in India
Nutritionists in India are concerned considering the nutritional inadequacy of most people in India.
One survey revealed that with three idlis, a bowl of sambhar and filter coffee, only Chennai’s traditional breakfast provides the best nutrition value (as it combines both carbohydrates, protein).
There’s no doubt that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, as there’s a gap of almost 12 hours after your previous meal. But then what you eat is also equally important.
So are you starting your day with a hearty and healthy breakfast?
For many Indians, breakfast is a hurried affair, and most of the time it lies low in nutrition. The changing lifestyle and rise in the number of working women have changed the breakfast menu in most households.
Sabudana Khichdi
Many men and women skip their breakfast nowadays or have only a small portion, as they are always in a hurry.
The challenge, of course, is to find something that is quick to make (for breakfast) and is also healthy.
Traditionally, all regional cuisines have their own share of good breakfast recipes. On some other days, you can also make upma, poha, idli, besan chilla.
On Weekends you may have pooris, aloo sabzi or parathas.
Then there’s cereals, oats, and the popular bread and omelette.
Misal-Pav
So explore your options and have a healthy & hearty breakfast, and don’t ever skip one!
Want to lose weight? Have a big breakfast
The study conducted at the San Raffaele Rome Open University, found that the group that ate most of their calories at breakfast, morning snack and lunch (compared to the other group that consumed their calories in the afternoon and evening) lost more weight. The morning group also lost more inches from their waists.
Researchers say that food that is eaten early is more likely to be burnt off in the day.
And I guess that is why the adage exists – “Eat Breakfast Like a King, Lunch Like a Prince, and Dinner Like a Pauper”.
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