Did your parent/ guardian ever tell you you needed to eat breakfast before leaving the house? I remember as a kid my mom telling me, "You must eat before you leave for school. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day!"
Reluctantly each morning, I'd scarf down a peanut butter toast. It felt inconsequential to me at the time, but now I feel really appreciative that I got into this habit at a young age.
One of the biggest hormone-supporting strategies I offer to my clients, and the one I'd like to offer to you today, is to not skip breakfast. Breakfast is a super essential meal in our day that can set the tone for the way our body will function the rest of the day, including the menstrual cycle.
When we've slept 7-9 hrs (ideally) throughout the night, we've essentially gone through a fasting state. When we wake up, it's important to get food into our bellies to make sure that our blood sugar doesn't dip too low.
Have you ever felt weak, extra fatigued, light-headed or dizzy? These are signs of low blood sugar.
Low blood sugar puts the body into a state of stress. The body is made to adapt to stress, so once in awhile low blood sugar may not have a large impact on health.
However, chronic (over a period of time) blood sugar lows and highs (the rollercoaster), can create increased internal stress in the form of inflammation or a fight or flight response.
Skipping breakfast regularly is associated with poor blood sugar regulation, decreased insulin-sensitivity and an increased risk of type 2 diabetes. Poor blood sugar management and decreased insulin-sensitivity can be a factor in reproductive health conditions such as PCOS, where ovulation is impaired.
Maintaining stable blood sugar is super important to maintain a healthy happy body and optimal hormone production. Menstrual cycle symptoms such as PMS, painful periods, and irregular cycles are all symptoms of deeper issues at play, one of which could be blood sugar instability.
In 1:1 coaching with me, we dive deep into your symptoms to find the root cause of your period issues (like blood sugar regulation) and support them intentionally. Book a discovery call to explore!
One of the best ways you can set yourself up for balanced blood sugar throughout the day is by eating a well-balanced breakfast that includes a source of protein, fats and carbohydrates!
I also want to acknowledge that food apartheid, food scarcity, and low socioeconomic status affect the food choices and the meals someone can access or not worldwide. The reality is that access to nutritious food is inequitable, and a lack thereof disproportionately affects BIPOC communities. Having regular access to the option of breakfast is a privilege. If anyone needs help connecting to a local food shelter or meal program, please reach out.
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