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Good morning and welcome to Episode 010 of the Train Your Brain Podcast with Dr. Michael Trayford. Every Monday we produce a 30-minute episode. Tuesday through Sunday we produce episodes with five-minute tips. Indeed, every episode of the Train Your Brain Podcast features a tip, so you get brain tips 365 days a year!
In Episode 010, Dr. Trayford gives us a brain tip that we can implement first thing in the morning: We need to fuel our brain just as we need to fuel our body. The brain needs a little protein to get started, so making a good breakfast choice is crucial to your brain health.
If you have any concerns regarding the information and applications discussed in this podcast, please consult your physician and a doctor who is experienced in functional neurology. Michael Trayford DC, DACNB is available for consultation by calling (828) 708-5274. Thanks for listening.
Eat your breakfast is one of those things we’ve all been told by our parents and even our grandparents. Of course, there is something to be said for the value of putting calories into your body each morning and the positive impact it has for the brain.
Unfortunately, what happens all too often is that people get caught up in their lives and sometimes give in to the temptation to skip breakfast. For some people it’s usually just a factor of being too busy. People are rushing out the door to get to work on time, drop off the kids or running late for an appointment.
There’s another segment of people that consciously choose to skip breakfast because they think it will help them lose weight. Their intuition tells them that skipping breakfast will give them a slimmer body shape, but in fact, it’s actually working against them.
Several different things happen when you eat breakfast in the morning. One of the primary benefits is that it gets your metabolism started. It also sets the tone for the day.
Your brain needs a constant steady source of fuel. It cannot store sugar, it cannot store fuel, so you need a constant steady source.
If you are going from say 8 o’clock at night until noon the next day without eating anything then the brain is without adequate fuel for most of that time. When this happens, the brain makes the inference that there isn’t adequate food available. When the brain goes into a state of crisis to starts to act to preserve its most valuable source of energy, which is fat.
The brain goes into a catabolic response, where it starts to break down protein structures and muscle mass in the body. Unfortunately, this is a very expensive process, which requires a lot of energy just to break down and use the protein.
The end result is that your body stores fat while making you feel more sluggish. Most people, especially men will deposit fat around the midsection and the neck. Fat in the neck area also contributes to snoring and other issues related to quality sleep, which can also have a negative impact on brain health.
When it comes to what you should eat for breakfast, and the ratio of fats, carbohydrates and protein is another matter worthy of a future tip. The key to take away from this tip is to develop the regular daily habit of eating breakfast.
The bottom line is that it doesn’t take much to wake up five minutes earlier to grab something quick for breakfast. When you’re first developing the habit of eating breakfast, it doesn’t have to be a big meal. Getting your metabolism started and providing energy for the brain don’t require a lot of fuel.
Even something simple like eating a piece of fruit or half of a half a bagel while you’re going out the door is better than nothing.
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