Recently my daughter, Dr. Samara Sterling, had a post on Facebook suggesting that “Not eating breakfast is associated with an 87% increased risk of death from cardiovascular disease! “. It got me thinking about the breakfast choices we make. Usually when we are on the run, we choose easy option like cereals, bagels, donut and coffee or a McDonald’s breakfast. But, how does that affect our day and ultimately, our health?
Why Re-think?
We have heard it said that we should eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a queen and dinner like a pauper. Surely the breakfast choices above do not fit this adage! Just a cursory look at these choices indicate lots of sugar, high fructose corn syrup, that is responsible for a myraid of diseases, including obesity, cancer and diabetes. These are precursors to heart disease. Also, these choices are filled with empty calories, so we eat a lot, and within an hour we are hungry and the blood sugar is still high. As one who had a heart attack and was obese, I had to rethink my breakfast choices.
What’s In Your Food?
A serious look at the ingredients in “Lucky Charms”, a popular breakfast cereal that children will die for, tells a very serious story. Take a look:
This is the ingredient list for Lucky Charms:
Whole Grain Oats, Marshmallows (Sugar, Modified Corn Starch, Corn Syrup, Dextrose, Gelatin, Calcium Carbonate, Yellows 5&6, Blue 1, Red 40, Artificial Flavor), Sugar, Oat Flour, Corn Syrup, Corn Starch, Salt, Trisodium Phosphate, Color Added, Natural and Artificial Flavor. Vitamin E (Mixed Tocopherols) Added to Preserve Freshness. Vitamins and Minerals: Calcium Carbonate, Zinc and Iron (Mineral Nutrients), Vitamin C (Sodium Ascorbate), a B Vitamin (Niacinamide), Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine Hydrochloride), Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin), Vitamin B1 (Thiamin Mononitrate), Vitamin A (Palmitate), a B Vitamin (Folic Acid), Vitamin B12, Vitamin D3.
Is This Good For You?
Take a look at how many times sugar is mentioned! Please note that syrup and any item ending in “ose” like Dextrose is a form of sugar. Why do we need artificial colors and flavors in our food? Also note that the vitamins and minerals mentioned are largely not bio-available because they are lab created. Cereals are usually served with milk, right? Is milk good for you as an adult? In a New York Times article, “Got Milk? Might Not Be Doing You Much Good, Aaron E. Carroll indicated that there was not a lot of evidence that milk does the adult body any good. In fact there were no associated benefits with drinking milk but it is associated with fractures in women and increased risk of death in both sexes.
Lucky Charms is not the only cereal or food item with such a list of ingredients! Take a look at the list of ingredients in white bread.
Just google some of the ingredients and you will find that these are not items to be consumed as food: Trisodium Phosphate, according to Wikipedia, is a cleaning agent and is a stain remover! Anyone with basic Science knowledge will know that calcium carbonate is a substance found in rocks! Rocks are good for the body, right? Do we need D3 chemical in our bread? Get into the sunlight for heaven’s sake. Ever wondered why your triglycerides are so high? It maybe caused from the food additive Mono- and Diglycerides that are found in many foods like bread, ice-cream, coffee creamers, nut butters, all baked goods even chewing gum. When Diglycerides and Monoglycerides enter the bloodstream they combine to form triglycerides. Triglycerides is one of the substance that is said to contribute to heart disease. I loved bread and oatmeal cookies! Heart stoppers!
The Alternative
Now, I make my own bread or I use Ezekiel Breads found in the refrigerator in supermarkets or health food stores. A bit more expensive, BUT, your health is worth it.
I am completely vegan now. I do find that I remain satiated for much longer when I choose healthier breakfast options. I have not had a cold, the flu or allergies for more than a year. I have cut the foods with chemicals from my diet, I read all labels. If I cannot pronounce the ingredient I do not buy. I try to eat mostly organic. Steel cut oatmeal is a part of my daily breakfast. This helps to keep my blood pressure in normal range and provides enough fiber to keep me regular. This is always supplemented with a variety of fruits and nuts other items. Need a breakfast cereal? Below, I have a delicious, healthy, bio-available nutritious ‘cereal’.
I know! My breakfast plate here looks delicious, right? And, it quite filling too! I will place the recipe on the recipes page, so check that page, try it and comment below! Maybe it is time to re-think your breakfast too!
Look Young, Stay Fit And Heart Healthy 