Breakfast is our favorite meal of the day. That might be because of all the sweet, fattening, delicious foods associated with a morning meal. But we aim to make good choices. Every now and then we splurge on a gluttonous breakfast but there’s one food we know never ever to eat on the regular.
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“Refined wheat, aka white flour, contains no nutrients and leaves your body hungrier than when you sat down to eat,” says Dr. Marizelle Arce, a naturopathic physician. You probably think that you’re avoiding white flour and only eating the healthy stuff. That’s what we thought. It’s time to really pay attention to food labels
It’s obvious that white bread toast is unhealthy. Same with bagels, cereals, waffles and any other grain that’s appears to be whole wheat but is not giving you at least 4 grams of fiber. Just because a food is described as “whole wheat” or “seven-grain” doesn’t mean it’s good for you. Any food that lists “wheat flour” or “unbleached enriched flour” is pure weight gain promoting junk.
“These empty calorie carbs will cause the next meal you have to be stored and turn into fat,” says Dr. Arce. Then comes the sugar imbalance that leads to cravings (mostly of more sugar!), extreme thirst and water retention.
A better breakfast choice is steel-cut oatmeal filled with healthy protein and fiber. The fiber keeps your insulin levels low which may help shrink fat cells. Oatmeal is also chewy and takes longer to eat than other breakfast foods. That means you eat it slowly enough to notice when your body feels full. Top it with fresh fruit, almond milk or a handful of almonds, or a spoonful of low-fat Greek yogurt and drizzle of honey.
