Pimp Your Breakfast: A Healthy Breakfast Just Got Healthier

The Alarm goes off, and the race begins. Shower, get dressed and somewhere in the mix grab a bowl of cereal before rushing to the tube. Mornings can be brutal. So why shortchange yourself when a few simple additions to your breakfast could make all the difference. Recently I have been taking a few more minutes in the morning to prepare my breakfast and am reaping the benefits. Not only do I want something fuelling, tasty and filling but I also want great hair, skin and nails. And of course I want energy, that’s a given, but is a souped up metabolism too much to ask for as well? With these small but savvy additions, no its not!

Add to Porridge and Oats: Flaxseeds
Flaxseeds are one of nature’s richest source of the essential fatty acid Omega 3. Omega 3 is needed in our diet to maintain optimum brain function and a healthy heart. Containing all 9 Amino acids the benefits for your skin, teeth, hair and bones are endless. Add 30g (two tablespoons) to your porridge. We love adding Blueberries too, but if the fridge is bare experiment with Linwoods delicious range: Milled Flaxseed, Cocoa, Strawberries & Blueberries, Milled Flaxseed & Goji Berries, Milled Flaxseed with Probiotic and Vitamin D.

Add to Spelt toast: Almond Butter
Rich in monounsaturated fats (the good fats of course) almond butter helps to reduce your level of cholesterol and the risk of heart disease. It also helps to regulate blood sugar levels by reducing the increase of insulin present after you eat a carbohydrate-heavy meal. We like ours with crushed raspberries on top.

Add to Smoothies: Get up and Glow shake by Patrick Holford
This low GI breakfast shake contains a powerhouse of vitamins and minerals. With a third of your daily protein requirements from the best quality whole-foods this is the perfect way to start your day. Add your favourite dairy free-milk such as oat, rice or almond, half a banana, berries and a handful of kale (go on – be brave) and drink up!

Add to Muesli: Pomegranate Seeds 
Although muesli often contains raisins, dates and other dried fruit, these can be high in sugar so try adding some fresh fruit such as the super-food pomegranate to take your breakfast to another level. Pomegranates are ranked ‘super-foods’ for a very good reason. Brimming with antioxidants, they contain no fat, are very low in fructose and offer five grams of fibre and 15% of your daily vitamin C recommendation. Enjoy drizzled with oat, rice or almond milk for a very hip and healthy start to your day.

Add to Hot Water and Lemon: Cayenne Pepper & Ginger
Lemon is raved about for its high levels of vitamin C, aiding digestion and cleansing the liver and kidneys of toxins. Cayenne pepper like lemon also has wonderful immune boosting, anti-fungal and detoxification properties as well as increasing the metabolism, regulating blood sugar levels and stimulating the circulatory system. For one more way to pimp your hot water and lemon add ginger. Fragrant and tasty it is an excellent anti-inflammatory and can bring relief to joint and muscular aches. It also aides absorption and assimilation of essential nutrients in the body, perfect to fire up those digestive juices before reaching for the fridge.