We have been conditioned since childhood to finish our meals and then wait for the dessert, as it often works as the cherry on the cake (sometimes literally). Even the restaurants and most eating joints put desserts towards the end of the menu.
In fact, the word ‘dessert’ has its roots in the French word ‘desservir which means to ‘de-serve’ i.e. to remove what has been served.Hence, we often save the lip-smacking jalebi or the ever-favourite chocolate chip ice cream till the end of our dishes to relish the sweet after-taste.
But what if we told you it is essential to begin your meal with something sweet, instead of the other way round? In fact, it is crucial that begin your day by having something sweet for breakfast.
We have been reminded a countless number of times that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. But because of our hectic lifestyles, we often end up missing it in the midst of rushing to the office and doing a number of things simultaneously.
This is the reason you crave for caffeinated drinks in the morning, as it is your body signalling you that there isn't enough energy left for it to function --all thanks to the missed breakfast.
According to Ayurveda, the ground rule is to have something sweet in the morning. It must be kept in mind that the meal should have natural sugar but should be low on glycaemic index. The glycemic index is a value assigned to foods based on how slowly or how quickly those foods cause increase in blood glucose levels.
Why?
The reason you should have something sweet for breakfast is because it gives you an instant as well a slow release of glucose, which in turn, keeps your body active throughout the length of the day.
Also having a sweet breakfast provides the much-needed sense of completeness to the body after hours of fasting (when you are asleep at night).
Apart from providing you with enough energy to get through the day, there is yet another important reason that you must not miss your breakfast.
According to Ayurveda--having food is the process of taking energy from nature. When you are low on energy, you end up craving for ‘bhautik’ (physical aspect) you may not even need right now--like a dress or a car. So in order to avoid making such rash decisions, it is crucial to have a good breakfast.
WHAT SHOULD YOU HAVE FOR BREAKFAST?
Having five almonds, one walnut, one dry fig and four almonds is the best combination to keep your body healthy and also combat a range of ailments including vitamin deficiencies, cholesterol issues and even diabetes.
You can also have coconut water, oats, honey and even ripened coconut for breakfast. It is essential to keep in mind that the quantity of the breakfast should be half or three-fourths of your full stomach.
----Tips taken from Urban Ayurveda by Tanya Malhotra.
