Breakfast has long been said to be the most important meal of the day. You have been fasting all night while you sleep and this literally means what it says “break” “fast”.

What you break that fast with, especially if you may have a need to focus on the health of your heart, is very important. Your body is your vehicle in this life, don’t feed it cheap gas. Let’s look at some heart healthy ideas for breakfast that both your body and your mouth will enjoy. Eating well doesn’t have to mean giving up taste.

Oatmeal – especially this time of the year is warm, nutritious, and great for your heart. Steel-cut is the best and you can top it with walnuts, raisins, or fruit. Milk and honey are also wonderful oatmeal toppers and don’t forget the cinnamon!

High fiber cereals such as Shredded Wheat or Cheerios with milk or non dairy milks and added fruits – bananas, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, wheat germ, honey, sunflower seeds, chia seeds, and even hemp seeds.

Yogurt – 1% fat – add granola, nuts, seeds, honey, berries, even coconut flakes!

Healthy omelets – use one whole egg (your body does need cholesterol) and several egg whites, serve with orange slices or grapefruit, and some whole grain sprouted bread toasted. Our favorite is Ezekiel Bread! Add in spinach, mushrooms, tomatoes, even asparagus or squash depending on how adventurous of an eater you are. The more veggies – the more volume for very few calories.

Make a smoothie – You can get really creative here. Bananas, blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, yogurt, protein powder, oats, bran, flax seeds, wheatgerm, coconut oil, pineapple, add in juices, really mix it up.

Eating breakfast makes for smaller increases in insulin. It can help lower LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, while curbing the urge to snack.  

Your body was made to eat clean and burn food as fuel. Feed it the right way and it will treat you well!

This advice comes to you from the health experts at Tampa Cardiovascular Associates of Tampa Bay, Florida. www.tampacardio.com 813-975-2800. We would love to see you in our office or by televisit for a nutritional and physical consultation to make sure you and your heart are in the very best health possible.