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Continuing on our theme of preparing a pitcher for competition, following a sufficient night's sleep a pitcher needs to "fuel his fastball" by eating a healthy breakfast. The following bullets are from a number of sources, including Lifespan hospitals, Robert Yang and Dr. Tom House:
* Breakfast restores sugar levels after up to 12 hours of not eating.
* It is extremely difficult to get all of your necessary daily nutrients without breakfast.
* People who skip breakfast are less mentally and physically efficient for longer periods during the day.
* People who eat breakfast are more successful at losing weight and sticking to a diet.
* Athletes who skip breakfast train less effectively.
* Eating breakfast can raise metabolism by as much as 10 percent.
* People who eat breakfast regularly are more likely to rate their health as "excellent" or "good."
* Eating breakfast has been shown to increase concentration.
* Eating a bigger meal in the morning and a smaller meal at night optimizes your daily energy levels.
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* When on the run, a food bar with 40/30/30 (carbs, protein, fat) is a smart, balanced choice. (See my blog on March 4th for more info. on choosing the right food bar).
Building a balanced breakfast
* Breakfast should provide at least one quarter of the calories you need for the entire day. Most nutritionists agree that a good breakfast contains the following ingredients:
* At least one serving of fiber
* At least one fruit and/or vegetable
* Milk or another source of calcium
* Protein, i.e., from meat, cheese or eggs
