January - March 2016 •
The Lion King
• 47
HEALTH |
LIFESTYLE
MANAGING DIABETES:
HEALTHY LIVING STARTS WITH
BREAKFAST
W
e have all heard that breakfast
is the most important meal
of the day. For people with
diabetes, this is especially so as it can
help keep blood sugar levels stable.
For those without diabetes, breakfast is
equally as important as it not only sets
the stage for the entire day but also
has a number of health benefits.
HEALTHBENEFITSOFBREAKFAST
Breakfast eaters are more likely to be
leaner:
A 2012 study shows that peo-
ple who eat breakfast everyday are
less likely to become obese, develop
type 2 diabetes, or gain fat around
their tummy.
When you don't eat a morning meal,
your body enters into a prolonged
fasting state. By the time you finally
eat lunch, your body stores it as fat,
leading to weight gain. When you
break the fast in the morning, on the
other hand, your body can use that
food to power you through the day.
Eating breakfast may protect your
heart:
A study from the Harvard
School of Public Health found that
people who skipped breakfast were
27% more likely to develop heart dis-
ease than those who had breakfast.
The results suggest those who missed
breakfast aremore likely to gainweight
which can lead to an increased risk of
diabetes, high cholesterol and blood
pressure — all of which are risk factors
for heart disease.
Breakfast gives your brain fuel to
enhance concentration:
Breakfast
restores glucose levels, an essential
carbohydrate that is needed for the
brain to function.
Many studies have shown that eat-
ing a healthy breakfast can improve
memory and concentration levels. It
can also make us happier as it can
improve mood and lower stress levels.
SO WHAT DOES A HEALTHY
BREAKFAST COMPRISE OF?
Irrespective of whether or not we have
diabetes, we should aim to have a
healthy breakfast.
A healthy breakfast should consist of
a variety of foods and should contain
complex carbohydrates, protein and
fibre. Protein can come from eggs or
beans. Fibre and carbohydrates can
be found in whole cereals, grains or
in fruits.
Start each day
right by having a
healthy breakfast.”
BY ENITAN SAWYERR *
*Enitan Sawyerr is a Brand Manager for Avon Healthcare Ltd.
