Spring Break
Students and Nutrition: Breakfast is the secret to success
Peter Curcio
Issue date: 2/5/09 Section: Forum
If we had the option of suddenly increasing our performance in school or work, having more energy, or being healthier and in better shape, many of us would jump at the chance. But what I speak of is not a miracle cure; it's not a pill or a fad diet. It's much more simple than that.
What I'm about to talk about can have an incredible effect on your sense of well-being and many other aspects of your life. It's a simple thing, but many of us don't take advantage of it: eating breakfast.
Simple, right? Well, maybe not. Turns out, it's easier said than done.
First of all, why do many people skip breakfast? Some reasons may include not having enough time or motivation, or maybe lacking an appetite at that ungodly time of day. In fact, according to Health Magazine, 90 percent of Americans consider breakfast a healthy choice, yet only 49 percent actually eat breakfast on a daily basis. No matter the reason why people skip breakfast, not eating this first meal of the day can really kick you in the nuts, so to speak.
For one, we become dehydrated. Dehydration gives us a sluggish, dry-mouthed feeling and turns our pee radioactive yellow. Not so fun. Well, it gets worse, because catabolism is another downfall of skipping breakfast. For those of you who haven't taken any biology or nutrition classes, think of catabolism as the opposite of anabolic, as in anabolic steroids. One builds up the business and the other tears it down.
To put it another way, according to the March 2007 issue of Men's Health, skipping breakfast means your body is essentially running on fumes by the time you reach work or school. That sends you desperately seeking the nearest and most convenient foods. These foods are often the same ones you should be avoiding, since they're usually packed with sugar or other fast-digesting carbohydrates and only work for a short while, after which your energy levels plummet and you fall out of your chair.
In other words, you are depriving the body of much-needed nutrients. It's starving, and it will start eating itself. It's kind of like not putting gas in your car when you want to go somewhere and you've been idling the engine for hours on empty.
What I'm about to talk about can have an incredible effect on your sense of well-being and many other aspects of your life. It's a simple thing, but many of us don't take advantage of it: eating breakfast.
Simple, right? Well, maybe not. Turns out, it's easier said than done.
First of all, why do many people skip breakfast? Some reasons may include not having enough time or motivation, or maybe lacking an appetite at that ungodly time of day. In fact, according to Health Magazine, 90 percent of Americans consider breakfast a healthy choice, yet only 49 percent actually eat breakfast on a daily basis. No matter the reason why people skip breakfast, not eating this first meal of the day can really kick you in the nuts, so to speak.
For one, we become dehydrated. Dehydration gives us a sluggish, dry-mouthed feeling and turns our pee radioactive yellow. Not so fun. Well, it gets worse, because catabolism is another downfall of skipping breakfast. For those of you who haven't taken any biology or nutrition classes, think of catabolism as the opposite of anabolic, as in anabolic steroids. One builds up the business and the other tears it down.
To put it another way, according to the March 2007 issue of Men's Health, skipping breakfast means your body is essentially running on fumes by the time you reach work or school. That sends you desperately seeking the nearest and most convenient foods. These foods are often the same ones you should be avoiding, since they're usually packed with sugar or other fast-digesting carbohydrates and only work for a short while, after which your energy levels plummet and you fall out of your chair.
In other words, you are depriving the body of much-needed nutrients. It's starving, and it will start eating itself. It's kind of like not putting gas in your car when you want to go somewhere and you've been idling the engine for hours on empty.
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Xanny
posted 2/05/09 @ 3:19 PM PST
I am sort of guilty of this as well. I never get to bed on time and always seem to wake up 30min before school starts. If I am lucky enought to eat breakfast, It is usually a nice bowl of sugary cereal. (Continued…)
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