A hearty breakfast is one that is nutritious, makes you feel satisfied and provides you with good energy to start your day.
There are so many health benefits to having a nutritious breakfast.
The breakfast favored by many Americans includes foods with low nutritional value and foods containing cow milk products, which are high in lactose.
There is a way for lactose intolerant people to enjoy a nutritious, satisfying breakfast without suffering afterwards.
What is Lactose Intolerance?
Lactose intolerance occurs when the body cannot properly digest lactose, a natural sugar found in cow milk.
If you are lactose intolerant you can experience gas, bloating, stomach cramps, nausea, and sometimes vomiting, or diarrhea about 30 minutes to two hours after eating or drinking foods that contain lactose.
So many common breakfast foods contain cow milk so they are “off limits” for lactose intolerant people.
The Average American Breakfast is Not Very Hearty
One of the most common breakfast foods in the US is cold cereal and milk. 31% of people who eat breakfast, opt for cold cereal. 10% opt for a bagel, toast, muffin, or pastry.
There is limited nutritional value in boxed cereal, breads, and pastries. High in carbohydrates, they are likely to boost your blood sugar and then let you down with a crash.
5 Reasons It’s Important to have a Really Nutritious Breakfast
Eating a breakfast with enough nutrition to satisfy and power-up your body will help:
- Manage your appetite so you can make it to lunchtime without needing snacks.
- Improve your concentration and focus.
- Weight management. If you feel satisfied, you are less likely to crave unhealthy, weight-gaining snacks.
- Make you feel happier. When your body lacks energy, you almost always feel more “down.”
- Better overall health. If you skip breakfast, you are more likely to eat snack foods high in cholesterol, sugar and saturated fat, increasing your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and inflammation.
How to Enjoy a Hearty Breakfast even if You’re Lactose Intolerant
If you are lactose intolerant, you can still enjoy some favorite breakfast foods, such as oatmeal, omelets, scrambled eggs, pancakes, waffles, or smoothies without using cow milk.
There are many plant-based milk options available in your local supermarket to use in your favorite breakfast recipes.
Not all Plant Milks Were Created Equal
Reading food labels when doing grocery shopping should be a habit if you want to improve and maintain good health. Make sure to read the labels of the plant-based milks before you buy as many of them contain added oils, gums, and even sugar. Try to find a milk with the least amount of ingredients. If it’s organic, that’s good, too.
So, even if you are lactose intolerant you can still enjoy a hearty breakfast to power your body for the day ahead.