Healthy breakfast foods - PART 1

For as long as we can remember, we've been told breakfast is the most important meal of the day. But why was that again? A good breakfast does not only boost you energy and memory level, it also prevents you from overeating later in the day and has impact on how long you live. So keep this in mind next time you rush out the door without something to eat.

Make sure you start off your day with a breakfast that combines good carbs and fiber with some protein. Have a look at these healthy breakfast foods. They kick start your day and make you feel full and energized throughout the whole morning.

• Bananas: There's nothing like a banana at breakfast to keep those mid-morning cravings away. But you`ll never eat a banana the same way after reading the next sentence. This yellow piece of fruit helps you combat depression, makes you smarter, cures hangovers, relieves morning sickness, protects against kidney cancer, diabetes, osteoporosis and blindness. And believe it or not, they can a cure the itch of a mosquito bite and put a great shine on your shoes (true story)

• Grapefruit: These guys have a beneficial effect on blood sugar and insulin levels. Grapefruit is also hydrating, filling, and packed with immunity-boosting antioxidants. Some of you might have to get used to the bitter taste (I know I did), it`s worth the while.

• Raspberries: These summer favorites are the main berry source of ellagitannins, a type of antioxidant that is thought to have cancer-fighting properties. They're also high in fiber (8 grams per cup), vitamin C, and vitamin K, which helps build strong bones. Although you can buy fresh raspberries year-round, during the off-season you'll find them cheaper (and with equal nutritional value) in the frozen foods aisle. They're perfect as an addition to cereal or yogurt, or mixed into a smoothie for a quick, drink-on-the-go breakfast.

• Oatmeal: Whether slowly cooked and creamy or blended with fresh fruit in a smoothie, oats provide your body with many benefits. If you're not eating oatmeal for breakfast, you're missing out on a delicious way to add fiber and nutrients to your body first thing in the morning. So what exactly makes oatmeal so superduper healthy? For years, research has shown a strong connection between oatmeal and cholesterol reduction. Oatmeal is rich of a certain type of fiber that gets rid of "bad" cholesterol. That means when you eat oats for breakfast, you're going to feel full for a long time. Breakfast foods high in sugar and fat can make you feel full for a brief period, but then you're hungry again. A breakfast smoothie, consisting of blended oats, fruit and ice, can satisfy your hunger easily until lunch. Check this delicious banana peanut butter oatmeal recipe.On top of all: oats also are packed with the antioxidants that battle against cell damage. And that can help plump up your skin and reduce wrinkles.

While I was writing this article I discovered loads of delicious and healthy foods to make a nice breakfast. And each food has so many good qualities. So I deciced to write a part 2 about this subject. To be continued...

Source: health.com, foodmatters.tv, besthealthmag.ca, huffingtonpost.com