General purpose: Persuasive speech
Specific purpose: Why breakfast is the most important meal of the day
Introduction:
Ladies and gentle how would you feel if the world stops for few hours? Your body stops functioning simply because your ignorance. My husband found the answer to this question in a hard way that he would never try to relive that moment. He had the ritual of waking up late and rush to the office with a packet of four biscuits as his breakfast. However, one day as he was going about his usual busy schedule at the office, he felt weak and fainted. Lucky, his colleagues who were near him gave him fast aid and rushed him to the hospital. After careful examination and a series of test by the doctors, he was told his body was weak and dehydrated due to staying for long without eating and doing vigorous work at the office. My husband was lucky he was near people who could help. Imagine it was you alone at home with no one to give first aid, or you are driving your children to school on the highway. This can have drastic effects not only to you but also the people we love and cherish in our life.
We have an intricate body which can be compared to a machine. As such, our bodies require proper maintenance and regular fill up. Negligence of not looking after our bodies can have disastrous effects on body and mind. This is because our body is made up of blood, living tissues and bones. All these components degenerate out each day. As these components wears out the immune systems becomes wear and this when a body become vulnerable to diseases such as diabetes. Thus, it is paramount that we keep fit and healthy. One of the ways of keeping fit and healthy is eating breakfast every single day. This will help the keep the body in shape and our mind focus and active. However, it not just a “junk breakfast” but a healthy and sensible breakfast which has all the nutrients the body needs. Therefore, caution should be taken on what we eat for breakfast.
ATTENTION
Research has found that breakfast is the most skipped meal. It is estimated that 30% of both children and adult skip breakfast. Another 30% consume junk foods such as crisps and biscuits as breakfast. Only 40% of Americans population has healthy breakfast (Adolphus et al., 2013). This is alarming since it does suggest that we have 40% or less of active, healthy and productive population every single day. Our children cannot concentrate in class due to hunger. Research has found that they are most likely to develop a habit of giving up early since their exhaust mind and body cannot handle challenges that require mental alertness and body strength. Thus, if these children continue this way up to adult life, it’s most likely they would also give up on life (Fleck, 2014).
NEED: ENERGY AND FOCUS
Consumption of breakfast has linked to positive outcomes on the quality diet that has essential nutrients for the body, weight loss and positive cognitive performance. It has been found adults and children who take breakfast regularly have a higher intake of fiber, carbohydrates and lower fat and cholesterol (Adolphus et al., 2013). In addition, it gives a daily dose of macronutrient to the body such as iron, zinc, folate, calcium and vitamins. Furthermore, research has found that people who habitually have breakfast are physically active and good cardiorespiratory fitness. Eating breakfast also reduce fatigue. Research has found that overnight fasting deplete glycogen and other nutrients in the body especially in children. The glycogen and other nutrients are used to give the body energy and stabilize the blood sugar. Once the glycogen and fluids are used up the body break down fatty acids derived the energy it needs. Thus, it’s vital we have breakfast to replace the nutrients lost at night and have adequate energy for the day as well as boosting the metabolism of the body (Better Health channel, 2014).Keeping a balance on the insulin and glucose has a significant and worthy effect on the metabolism and the health of the body in general (Consumer Reports, 2014).
SATISFACTION: TASTE
Many people claim they don’t enjoy breakfast since it has become a routine hence they feel it taste bad. However, if your idea of breakfast is tea, coffee and doughnut daily, then I can’t blame you. Therefore, to have a satisfying breakfast to look forward to each morning and which taste good, calls for creativity. Plenty of foods that are simple to prepare that can be incorporated into a healthy, tasteful breakfast. There are varieties of cereal, yogurts and juicy fruits (Consumer Reports, 2014). During the winter, warm oatmeal or sweet French toast would be a great idea for breakfast. On a summer to avoid sweating in the morning juicy fruits and cup of cool yogurt can be a relishing experience.
VISUAL: OBESITY AND OTHER DISEASES/MOOD/APPEARANCE
Diabetes
Research has found that individual who skips breakfast have the knack of over eating have a 21% chance of getting diabetes. This is because due to the overnight fasting and reduction in the glucose in the body; hunger hormones e.g. ghrelin encourage overeating effects. This gives rise in the level of glucose and fats in the body. Hence, the body fights back by producing insulin and other hormones to keep the blood sugar level and fats at balance state. The Overeating exhausts some vital body organs such as pancreases. The burn out of these important organs such as the pancreas leads to the development of diabetes (Consumer Reports, 2014).
Heart diseases
Research has shown that people who don’t take breakfast have a 27% chance of developing heart diseases than those who usually take breakfast. The research has shown that people who skip breakfast due to hunger and overeating develop high blood pressure, increased sugar level and cholesterol which increase the risk of getting heart disease (Consumer Reports, 2014).
Obesity
People who are usually skipping breakfast developed the urge of snacking to compensate for the energy loss during the night. Thus, these people get the fond of consuming junk food which isn’t healthy for their body. Thus, with time they gain weight and store too much fat in the body and eventuality obesity set in.
Apart from preventing diseases, breakfast creates a happy person. This is because the body is full of energy, and the mind is refreshed. Additionally, a family that starts the day together stay connected throughout the day since it is most likely they share their plans for the day at the breakfast table. Who would want a happy family? Moreover, since we are active and alert, chances of being lazy and making mistakes at the office are rare. Thus, this means a person would have an easy time with colleagues and client at work apart from being productive.
People would always find an excuse of why they don’t get time to prepare breakfast. Most people would say they always wake up late, or they have to be in the office or school early and there is always no food in the house. Others would say they are always tired in the morning, or they prefer to spend a little time in bed before getting ready for the day (Better Health channel, 2014). However, one can prepare breakfast the previous night and store it properly. The next morning it would be just warm it for like 5 minutes and eat. Additionally, a person can use high fiber cereals which only require to be mixed with milk/water/yogurt and eat the cereal with a variety of fruits such as banana, orange or apples.
Conclusion
Therefore, if we want a healthy and refresh body with functioning mind, breakfast is a must. Thus, it high time we drop our excuse of not taking breakfast and embrace the culture of having regular breakfast. This will keep the diseases away, welcome productivity and happy life.
Thank you.
Work cited
Adolphus, Katie, Clare L. Lawton, and Louise Dye. "The effects of breakfast on behavior and academic performance in children and adolescents." Frontiers in human neuroscience 7 (2013).
Better Health channel. "Breakfast." Better Health Channel. N.p., 2014. Web. 4 Nov. 2014. <http://m.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Breakfast?open>.
Consumer Reports. "Why Eating the Right Breakfast Is So Important - Consumer Reports." Consumer Reports Online. N.p., n.d. Web. 4 Nov. 2014. <http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/magazine/2014/10/why-eating-the-right-breakfast-is-so-important/index.htm>.
Fleck .A. "Does Eating Breakfast Affect Children's Learning?" Healthy Eating | SF Gate. N.p., n.d. Web. 4 Nov. 2014. <http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/eating-breakfast-affect-childrens-learning-5275.html>.
