Does it matter what breakfast you feed your children?

The brain represents about 2% of body weight of an adult but it consumes 20% of the oxygen and glucose the body produces, even at rest. Glucose is the brain’s main fuel supply and is therefore necessary for mental performance.

Despite the well established fact that increased levels in glucose are associated with better cognition 10-30 % of people in Europe skip breakfast - the first opportunity to replenish the glucose levels in the blood after a long night of fasting.

We all know breakfast is important, but does it matter what type of breakfast? We enlisted one scientist and a classroom full of schoolchildren, to see if we could find out.

"increased levels in glucose are associated with better cognition"

On two consecutive days we got our children to test two different types of breakfast - an English breakfast of scrambled eggs and toast, and an American one of waffles and maple syrup.

We waited three hours for the breakfasts to take effect and then gave the children a frustrating game of swing ball to play. What we were looking for was not swing ball skill, but rather the ability to stay focused on the task in hand and not get frustrated with losing.

So which breakfast proved a winner? Staying power was more prominent after the English breakfast. Why? Because foods like eggs, toast, and oats have a low GI content which means the glucose is released more slowly into the blood keeping you focused for longer.

Does sugar make kids hyperactive?

Do you dread children’s parties because of the effect all those sugary snacks will have on your child? Does sugar turn your little angel into a little monster?

Are you sure it’s the sugar?

We decided to find out. Enter Becky and Niall. Two five year olds whose occasional out-of-control behaviour their parents’ attribute to sugar. Add two parties, one with sugary snacks and the other sugar-free, and mix well.

Day one, the underwater themed storytelling party. To make sure the experiment was impartial we told Becky’s mum Patricia, and Niall’s dad Michael, that we would be feeding their children a sugar-free lunch. Then we swapped the healthy snacks for the sugary ones.

When it was time for Becky and Niall to go home both parent’s were unsurprised at how calm they were since they believed that the children had consumed a healthy sugar-free lunch.

Day two, the crazy, boisterous, food throwing party. This time we told Becky’s and Nialls’ parents that we would be feeding them a lot of sugar and they prepared for the worst.

"they had both eaten the equivalent of 47.5 cubes of sugar"

The dreaded time arrived and we filmed Niall and Becky on the journey home. Both their behaviour was markedly different to what their parents had witnessed the day before and Patricia and Michael were certain the sugar had some influence.

On revealing our double-bluff Patricia and Michael were astounded by the outcome, especially when we told them that on day one, when the children were calmer, they had both eaten the equivalent of 47.5 cubes of sugar.

The theory that too much sugar makes children hyperactive doesn’t stand up to the tests - it may be that the environment your child is in is the defining factor in how boisterous their mood is. This doesn’t mean sugar get’s off lightly though. It may not lead to hyperactivity but it does make your blood sugar drop which could make your children irritable and distracted.

Is snacking better for your performance?

What is the best way to consume the right amount of calories but not slow down after eating them? New research suggests that how you eat can prove vital in how long you keep going.

In Montana, Oregon, summers are hot and humid. Amongst 22 million acres of forest wild fires spread, well, like wildfire. For this reason it is essential that the fire fighters controlling the flames are energised and alert at all times.

"those who grazed on FSRs completed 25% more work"

The test was conducted by Brent Ruby, University of Montana, Missoula. He fed teams of forest fire-fighters on either their standard packed lunches which were eaten all at once, or on specially made First Strike Rations (FSRs), designed to be eaten on the go over a long period of time.

He found that those who grazed throughout the day on FSRs completed 25% more work on their 10-12 hour shifts than those on packed lunches.

People in physically demanding jobs need a consistent supply of glucose and other nutrients. If this supply comes all at once blood rushes to the gut to help digest the food. This temporarily reduces the blood supply to the rest of the body, which means the muscles can't work as efficiently. Snacks need less energy to digest so less blood rushes to the gut, which allows it to be used by working muscles and should mean the snackers are able to work harder.

The consultant on the study was Brent Ruby, professor at the Department of Health and Human Performance Exercise Science Program at the University of Montana, Missoula.

Why a healthy weight is important !

Healthy weight

If your BMI or your waist measurement is above the healthy range, you're at increased risk of a number of serious medical conditions, especially heart disease and diabetes. You're also more likely to suffer from joint problems and back pain, and you may find you become breathless and may have difficulty sleeping.

The more weight you gain, the more severe these problems may become. The good news is that losing weight will alleviate many of these problems.

Weight Loss

Losing weight is about eating fewer calories than you burn off in your everyday life. Try to make small but permanent changes to your lifestyle, rather than opting for a dramatic new diet. You may lose weight more slowly, but you'll reduce the chances of regaining it again later.

Most doctors recommend that, on average, you should aim to lose no more than 1kg (2lb) a week.

“If your weight stays the same for a week or two, don't abandon all you've achieved”

Some weeks you may lose more weight than others. As long as your weight is continuing to decrease overall, there's no need to worry. If your weight stays the same for a week or two, don't abandon all you've achieved; instead, focus on the amount and type of foods you are eating and try to be a little more active.

Losing five per cent of your initial body weight in three months, or ten per cent in six to 12 months, is an excellent start. Reward yourself with a special treat - a beauty treatment, a new item of clothing or even a bunch of fresh flowers can all mark your success.