by: Dr. Mitravinda Savanur, a Nutritionist at DietChart with a doctoral degree in Food Science and Nutrition. Through her blogs, she wishes to help people gain a deeper understanding about the relationship between food, nutrition, lifestyle and health.

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“Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dinner like a poor man” is a well-known proverb.

In childhood, you must have often heard your parents tell you to eat breakfast or else you cannot concentrate on studies. I used to think that by being hungry one will concentrate on the stomach than on studies. But the science behind this proverb meant different. By eating breakfast, our metabolism gets improved, which supplies energy to our nervous system, keeping our whole day active. This high metabolism even helps us in losing weight which is contradictory to general thinking of weight gain.

What is a healthy breakfast?

Not all breakfasts help in weight loss. Some rules need to be followed to kick-start your metabolism at a good pace. As per some studies, one should eat within 30-60 minutes after waking up to take full advantage of body’s fat burning capacity.

A healthy breakfast is one which contains all nutrients, fibers, and proteins required by a body. Mostly it should be rich in proteins like eggs and yogurt.

How does breakfast help in weight loss?

Not hungry anymore!

The protein content in one’s breakfast, say eggs, decreases hunger and results in less calorie intake all day. Some healthy foods like bananas + oatmeal encourage your body to burn fat for energy.

Catalyses the body metabolism.

The breakfast that includes proteins, fibers, and nutrients in adequate amounts enhances the metabolism of your body. This means that your body is well-equipped to digest the food faster and more efficiently. The result? Your body is able to soak up all the nutrients and the extra fat is burned.

Skipping breakfast? Not a good idea!

According to some studies, skipping breakfast leads to higher weight and body mass index. This is because if one skips breakfast stomach will be empty for longer hours which prompt you to take high-calorie food during lunch. Hunger hormone “ghrelin” is produced in higher quantities in the morning. It regulates our hunger cravings and food habits. Additionally, breakfast in the morning has a direct impact on blood sugar levels and it reduces postprandial hyperglycemia (good for people suffering from diabetes).

Losing weight requires hard work!

If you start eating a healthy breakfast, you cannot expect that you will magically lose weight one day! It’s just the first step. It has to be accompanied by some exercise, a regulated and healthy diet and, most importantly, dedication.

Crazy diets and heavy gymming may not be for everyone. Stay determined, eat healthily and exercise every day! Stay focused and you’ll definitely get there.

But first, start right. Have a healthy breakfast.