With a flood of different diet books each recommending the best way to keep healthy, it can sometimes be a bit tricky to work out what is actually best. Whether you’re following Keto, Paleo, AIP or any other diet, one thing nutritionists recommend is eating a good breakfast.
Do you know:
1. One of the most common things we do as humans is mistaking thirst for hunger. Although we are often told we need to drink just under 2 litres of water per day, there aren’t actually any official guidelines. The best thing to do is listen to your body and possibly try a drink first before eating when you feel hungry.
All drinks help to keep us hydrated but water, milk, fruit juice and herbal teas contribute the most. A number of studies have indicated fluid helps our brains to function, our bodies to maintain a healthy weight and also keep our complexions looking younger.
2. Wholegrains will also keep you fuller for longer and help even out any sugary highs or lows. Porridge, muesli, yoghurt with granola, wheat rusks and off the shelf cereals can all contain fibre, which will help. Why not skip those laden with sugar and make your own healthy alternative?
3. Adding fruit and vegetables to breakfast can be easy. Top some porridge with your favourite berries, add a banana to wheat biscuits or grill some mushrooms and tomatoes. All will kick your 5 or 7 a day off to a good start.
4. Including proteins such as eggs, avocado or lean meats and fish to your diet is another great way of keeping in shape and fighting a mid-morning lull. Kippers anyone?
5. If you’re carb-conscious but love a slice of toast, then a recent study found freezing white bread actually turns the starch in the bread into resistant starch. This in turn lowers the calories you consume and helps feed your gut bacteria rather than piling weight on.
6. Following a particular diet may be worth a try. Keto advocates high fat, low carb whereas Paleo harks back to our hunter-gatherer ancestor and cuts our processed and sugary foods, favouring meat and wholegrains. AIP (autoimmune protocol) on the other hand looks to help reduce allergies and inflammation. In general, there are many gluten free, dairy free products on the supermarkets shelves and there are some fantastic recipes online, which should all help guide you in the right direction.
