In the News - May 2009
Why eat breakfast? It's all in the name
JONESBORO, Ark. - Perhaps the most important reason to eat breakfast each
morning comes from the body's need for energy, says Debbie DeRossitte, Craighead
County extension agent with the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture.
"Breakfast literally means ‘break the fast'," she says. "Your body has gone
without food for eight hours or more and it needs nutrients to get started
again."
A healthy breakfast replenishes glucose levels, also known as blood sugar,
giving the body the energy it needs to start a new day. A growing body of
evidence suggests that breakfast is good for mental as well as physical health.
People who eat a healthy breakfast each day are more likely to:
- Consume more vitamins and minerals. Regular eating can
result in adding more favorable nutrients and less detrimental
ones to the daily diet.
- Concentrate better and be more productive. A healthy
breakfast helps replenish glucose, the brain's main energy
source.
- Control their weight. Several theories exist to support
this idea. One theory says that eating breakfast may reduce
hunger later. Another says eating breakfast may cause people to
choose less-dense foods.
- Have more strength and endurance. People who eat breakfast
have higher energy levels and may engage in more physical
activity than those who skip the morning meal.
- Reduce the risk of heart disease. People who eat breakfast
generally consume less fat and cholesterol than those who skip
breakfast.
Breakfast is called the most important meal of the day for a reason, and its
positive effects are noticeable especially in children, says DeRossitte.
According to the American Dietetic Association, children who eat breakfast are
more likely to have better concentration, problem-solving skills and hand-eye
coordination. They may also be more alert and creative, and less likely to miss
days from school.
That's a great incentive to start the day off full and focused.
For more information on eating a healthy breakfast, contact your county
Extension office or visit www.uaex.edu. The Cooperative
Extension Service is a part of the University of Arkansas Division of
Agriculture.
May 8, 2009
Media Contact: Elizabeth Fortune
Extension Communications Specialist
U of A Division of Agriculture
Cooperative Extension Service
(501) 671-2120
efortune@uaex.edu
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