Power breakfasts for a productive day

The breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It is called a breakfast for a reason-it is the meal you take after your body has stayed the longest without food. A normal dinner would be taken at around 8 pm and breakfast at around the same time the next day, so that makes it approximately twelve hours without food. During that time, the body rests and breaks down nutrients and stores up for fasting periods, which is why we need to replenish as soon as possible.

Breakfast is really the most important meal of the day.

In many ways, it can set the tone for the rest of your day. A rich, good breakfast filled with the essential nutrients will go a long way to set the tone for your day, keeping you strong and vital through the day.

A balanced breakfast should contain slow-digesting carbohydrates to maximise energy release, fibre, essential vitamins and minerals like calcium and omega 3 fatty acids.

Some tips to maximise breakfast include:

Eat healthy carbohydrates: instead of over-processed carbohydrates that do more harm than good, opt for whole grains like wheat in your bread, oatmeal and bran. They are filled with fibre for effective digestion and do not contain over processed sugars.

Proteins are important. They are an alternative source of energy without causing a buildup of fat in the body. These proteins do not have to be processed meats, but healthy nuts, milk and eggs. Yoghurt is also an excellent option and has the added advantage of boosting digestion.

Fruits are necessary. The phrase “an apple a day keeps the doctor away” should be expanded to include watermelon, oranges and mangoes-in fact, any fruit in the season should find its way to the breakfast table in some form. Smoothies are a nice way to add variety to fruit intake during meals.

Grab a good breakfast and set off for a power-filled day.