When do you break the fast of the night?
That’s what breakfast is: when we break the fast of the night.
It’s not hard to find a researched opinion that we should emphasize a hearty breakfast before heading out the door.
As a former teacher, seeing hungry students scrambling to get something in their tummies at the start of first period each day, I often wished I could offer them more than the carb-laden breakfasts the school provided, or the pop tarts the students brought themselves.
Workday schedules just seem to require starting the day with quality protein-centric calories to fuel physical and mental strength. That was certainly true for me.
Furthermore, I see so many reports touting “eating like a king in the morning, like a prince at noon, and like a pauper at night,” to promote optimal digestion.
Others hold fast to the philosophy of eating their main meal mid-day.
Then there’s the well-researched crowd that embraces eating a substantial protein and good-fat meal in the late morning – followed by a protein snack if needed, and a protein/good fat and salad dinner.
Doing that extends the fast of the night – thus, entering the conversation of the benefits of intermittent fasting.
As someone who no longer punches a timecard to start work, changing up the timing of my first meal is easier – so here I go changing up timing and content.
Our first meal is closer to the 11 o’clock hour and it’s been looking just a bit different.
Yes, the eggs are still there, frequently including a splash of cream in the scramble, and if there’s gluten-free toast, there will be avocado smash on top. Otherwise, the avocado will be on the side seasoned with garlic salt and pepper.
My friends who are younger and engage in more rigorous exercise, say they conclude their first meal with an additional protein boost of full fat Greek yogurt with blueberries.
The avocado – never a stranger on our plates – is becoming more of a daily feature.
Why?
The fat in avocados is mostly monounsaturated fat which is heart-healthy, helps reduce ‘bad’ LDL cholesterol, and also helps the body absorb the fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K.
Don’t let the creamy smooth texture of avocados fool you – one avocado has 14 grams of dietary fiber.
Fiber-rich foods are critical in feeding the good gut bacteria. The bacteria, in turn, digest this fiber and produce short-chain fatty acids.
As this article explains:
“Short-chain fatty acids provide health to the gut cells and gut lining,” says JeJe Noval, Ph.D., M.S., RDN. “Many fiber-rich foods include prebiotic elements in them, like avocados. Therefore, consuming a variety of fiber-rich foods like avocados, berries and nuts, to name a few, work together with probiotic-rich foods like sauerkraut, kimchi and yogurt to produce health benefits.
The offering of prebiotic fiber through avocados has been shown to support diversity in our gut microbiome, thus – contributing to proper digestive function.
My experience with daily avocado consumption so far has provided satiety, improved bowel function, and a less-bloated tummy.
The extended period of fasting helps the body burn its fat stores, rather than using glucose for energy – thus aiding with weight loss.
Maybe my flatter tummy is more than ditching the bloating!
Coupled with our last post about a way to improve digestion after meals with a 10-20 minute stroll, I am hoping to keep “doing my body good” in ways that are easy to maintain.
In health –
Deidre




















































































