Balanced Diet FoodsKick Start Your Day with Great Health Foods

Stop popping in weight loss pills to curb appetite. Instead, concentrate on eating healthy food and not starving yourself to ill health. When you start off your day with foods that are high in nutrition, you not only keep a check on your weight but also get the much needed energy to complete your everyday tasks with improved concentration and stay productive all day long.

When fed a healthy and balanced breakfast, children also enjoy more alertness. Your goal should be to have a balanced diet built around nutritious foods if you want to see prime results. If you need any help working up a menu, here are a few health foods you may consider:

Foods Rich in Protein

The results of a study that was published in 2011 in Health Magazine cited thirteen healthy males ages 18 to 23 that spent some time eating breakfast that was either 50 percent protein, 30 percent carbohydrates and 20 percent fat, or 10 percent protein, 70 percent protein or 20 percent fat. Both of these breakfasts had the same amount of calories. When the participants compared how they felt after eating, the ones eating the high protein breakfast felt more full, were more alert and in better moods. If you want to get these kinds of benefits, simply include foods rich in protein in your breakfast.

Foods with Omega-3 Fatty Acids

If you want to keep your brain functioning at its’ optimal level, you must be sure to eat foods that give you Omega-3 fatty acids. If you don’t eat enough of these, you’ll become forgetful, depressed, fatigued and fight off mood swings. To make sure this doesn’t happen to you, include omega-3 fatty acids into your diet regularly. Excellent sources for this include walnuts, flaxseeds and cold-water fish like salmon. Breakfast choices include smoked salmon on whole grain toast or bagels, cereal, yogurt or a smoothie made with ground walnuts and flaxseeds.

Vegetables and Fruits

Vegetables and fruits offer just the right amount of carbohydrates. These are the main dietary energy source as well as antioxidants like beta-carotene and vitamin C. Diets that have a high amount of antioxidants have shown improved brain function, moods and memory. All of this relates directly back to positive moods. Great sources for these antioxidants include cantaloupe, berries, tomatoes, citrus fruits, bell peppers, carrots and leafy greens.

Whole Grains

When grains are in their whole form, they have more protein, fiber and antioxidants than the refined grains like white flour. Whole grains are rich in fiber and complex carbohydrates that help you stay full until lunch. These will also keep you from getting groggy and hungry that can come along with low blood sugar. When you’re trying to choose great sources for whole grains, look to oatmeal, cereals, English muffins, tortillas, and bread made with 100 percent whole grain.

Putting It All Together

It’s much better for you if you can combine something from each of the food groups for your breakfast. You’ll feel much better and that will improve your entire day!

 

Brenda Lyttle is a health expert who began writing for publications in her community in 2005 and now commands an authority in writing on healthy living, diet pills, best acne treatment and anti-aging related topics.