Posted By:Dr. Beth Browne, MD
Posted On:January, 08th 2009
Category: Weight Loss
The Most Important Meal of the Day Breakfast. Yes, it is true.Studies have shown several benefits from eating within one hour after awakening. Eating breakfast is like jump starting your metabolism for the day. After sleeping for 6 to 8 hours, the metabolism slows; think of it like a car idling. Breakfast wakes up the metabolism because you actually burn calories every time you digest food. Another benefit from eating a healthy, portion controlled breakfast, is later in the morning or by lunch time you are not ravenous. Skipping breakfast may tempt you to eat too large of a portion at lunch or grabbing something quick like a dough nut with your mid morning coffee. Also, remember that coffee is NOT breakfast. More than 8 ounces of coffee a morning can cause hyperphagia or increased hunger after 2 hours. Scientist think there is a link between caffeine and insulin levels, which affect hunger and cravings. Further evidence to support this was in a study released just last week. Researchers found that diabetics who drank more than 1 cup of coffee a day had poorer blood sugar control than diabetics who drink very little to no coffee on a daily basis. Mom was right about eating breakfast; we just need to change the bacon, scrambled eggs and pancakes to whole wheat toast with orange marmalade, a fruit smoothie, and a poached or hard boiled egg.