BREAKFAST MYTHS

DONT START YOUR DAY WITH A BIG BREAKFAST !

Gone are the days to eat breakfast like a king. It’s a big misconception that we need to eat a hearty, heavy meal to start the day. There are theories to say you are starving the whole night so you need to fuel up in the morning. However, you are not really starving at night. Your body is performing a very important function of absorption while you sleep. You need to replenish but not overload in the morning.

Our eating habits have not evolved; we still eat the way our ancestors did. In India our roots lie in farming.  We worked hard physically. In rural India even today nothing has changed. People exert a lot of physical energy. Men toil in the fields or carry heavy loads, and work outdoors in harsh climate. Women have to cook, clean, bear children, look after the children single handed and when free assist their men folk in the fields. They don’t need to go to a gym to get artificial exercise. And they need to ensure that their stomachs are full to carry on all that work. By the time it’s the next meal they are depleted and need to refuel.

 Most of the rural population is healthy, live long lives and more importantly are fit. Our urban lifestyles are an evolution from our roots. We are the exact opposites of our kin who live in villages. We have none or very little activity, and yet we still think we need to eat the same way.

A heavy breakfast, especially one like a south Indian one which is full of starch brings our body to a crashing halt. When we wake up our body has finished absorbing the nutrients of the previous day and is now ready to eliminate the waste. However when we eat a heavy morning meal the body gets diverted to perform a long digestion that only a part of our waste is eliminated and the balance results in a build up of toxin.

An urban dweller needs to eat small meals frequently and eat starches during the daytime when they are most needed and avoid them at night when they are of no use to us. A village dweller needs large meals three times a day, and starchy foods to provide energy over a long period. Hence for a city dweller the following are the ideal breakfast options.

All portions to satisfy hunger and keeping in mind the next meal is in 2 hours

1)      Mixed fruit

2)      Cereal that is low in starch and sugar

3)      Whole wheat toast and an egg

4)      Low fat yogurt and fruit

5)      Smoothies – combinations of fruit or vegetables with yogurt or milk. A wholesome meal in itself, nuts may be added

So the key to a good breakfast is you just need to refuel, get enough energy to be active, not over eat, and avoid foods high in starch and sugar. Lastly, keep your caffeine consumption in check.

You will find your energy levels and your productivity go up.

RESPECT YOUR BODY, LOVE YOURSELF.