Breakfast reduces cardiovascular risk and obesity.

Recent research into the effects of breakfast on cardiovascular risk in Italians shows that individuals who eat breakfast have lower CVD risk, enjoy better physical health, and have nearly 40% lower risk of metabolic syndrome. Eating breakfast lowered the risk of having a higher BMI, abdominal obesity, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, blood glucose, triglycerides, total cholesterol, and C-reactive protein, all cardiovascular risk factors.

PositiveTip:  Eating a good breakfast can significantly reduce multiple CVD risk factors.

Are your kids eating camouflaged cookies for breakfast? Look again!

It is sad that the top selling children's breakfast cereals are still loaded with sugar. In fact, one cup of the most popular contain more sugar than a Twinkie! According to the Environmental Working Group, less than a quarter of these cereals even meet the proposed federal recommendations. In addition to sugar, these cereals are high in sodium and contain artificial flavors and colors.

PositiveTip: Parents: read the ingredient lists and food labels, do the simple math, and only place wholesome, healthy cereals on your table.

Self-medicating for anxiety with alcohol and drugs can quickly lead to abuse.

Alcohol and drug abuse is often associated with anxiety disorders, but which came first?  A study of 34,653 adults followed for 3 years may help answer this question. Participants having anxiety disorder at the beginning of the study and self-medicated with alcohol and/or drugs, were 2.5 times as likely to develop alcohol abuse, and had a five fold risk of drug abuse problems within three years.  These substances tend to weaken the ability to deal with life issues by making sound, reasonable choices--thus compounding stressful life situations.

Whole grain cereals for breakfast delays hunger and reduces food intake.

Preadolescents children eating whole grain low glycemic cereals for breakfast had delayed return of hunger after breakfast and consume less food at lunch. 

PositiveTip:  Make breakfast and whole grain foods a regular part of your eating habits.

Make breakfast the best meal of the day!

Many, many people skip breakfast either because they don't take the time or they believe in the misguided notion that doing so will help them control their weight. Can eating a good breakfast really make a difference in your performance? Here are four reasons to consider: