[Women and health] Be charged throughout the day with these simple health tips

Starting your day with a healthy breakfast is the one health tip that a majority of people are aware of but never really follow. But do you really know how to keep those hunger pangs at bay throughout the day, have increased energy levels, stimulate a great digestive system and achieve the highest level of productivity?

There are simple yet crucial steps that you can take every morning to help reach your optimal level of health, well-being and productivity. It might sound too simple, but it is simple things that are often the most effective.

The morning is a powerful time of the day. It’s when your entire body and mind has had the time to heal, rest, repair and re-build the system. Hence, how we treat our body and mind when we wake up in the morning and what we put into it will determine our next 12 hours ahead. Women today spend their morning tending to others. Cooking, packing lunches, getting their spouse or children ready for the day and, as a consequence, skip or eat an unhealthy breakfast on the go. There are certain quick measures that don’t need much planning and can make a big difference to how you start your day, even if you have ridiculously busy mornings.

The old warm water-and-lemon tale

Yes, this might be a known fact for many years but there is no denying the fact that starting your day with warm water and lemon is ideal. Due to the long time gap from dinner to breakfast, the stomach tends to become highly acidic in the morning. The first thing many do turn to tea or coffee, which cause even more acidity. The right thing to do is to stimulate the digestive system with the warm water, the lemon is to alkaline the acid and adding a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar or turmeric makes it even more of an elixir to health. A healthy digestive system is one of the most important factors to healthy life that we all tend to ignore. Kick-starting your day by cleansing the digestive system in the morning eliminates toxins, boosts metabolism and keeps you feeling energised and productive during the day.

Juice your greens

A tall glass of green juice loaded with nutrients will give you more energy than an average cup of coffee. Starting your day with a green juice not only alkalises your stomach but provides you with a major dose of nutrients in one shot. You will notice a significant improvement in your skin, hair, digestive system and energy levels. It’s a great detoxifier and can keep the immunity strong during a hectic work day. Remember to always have a higher ratio of greens to fruits. Try this – spinach or kale, parsley, basil, lemon, ginger and green apple, blend and enjoy!

Protein power

Protein breaks down and digests much slower in the body and hence keeps you satisfied for longer. Carbohydrates which make up 80 percent of our breakfast portion breaks down faster and turns into simple sugars. The more complex the carbohydrate, the slower the process of break down, hence complex carbs are the way to go. Starting your day with a combination of complex carbs and protein will most definitely keep you fuller for longer during the day and inhibit binges. Such as, eggs (mostly white), multigrain toast, a portion of beans with spinach or mushrooms. Moreover, according to the Franklin Institute, protein keeps you much more alert in comparison to carbohydrates. So increase your protein intake for your next breakfast, and see how you feel.

Hydrate with water

The importance of water cannot be stressed upon any further. Hydrating yourself in the morning and maintaining it throughout the day is key to good health. Water stimulates the digestive system and keeps hunger pangs at bay. We often confuse hunger for thirst and tend to snack unnecessarily. A simple glass of water can control your sugar cravings too. Remember to stick to water because juice boxes and other packaged drinks have artificial or concentrated sugar. Green tea is packed with antioxidants, however is a diuretic and can be dehydrating. Nothing really compares to water for optimal hydration.

There are many ways to incorporate healthier food habits to start your day. Listed above are a few which will definitely help get you started. As mentioned, it’s simple measures that will make the most difference. Your health will affect your environment, be it professional, social or personal. Therefore, it is imperative to take interest in it.