Our minds and our bodies are connected in a number of important ways, and getting the fuel we needs doesn't just mean resting up.
As Lisa De Fazio, a healthy-lifestyle expert and registered dietitian, tells Business Insider, breakfast is the most important meal of the day
By the time you wake up you likely haven't eaten for 10 or 12 hours, which is where breakfast got its name — it means "breaking the fast," De Fazio says.
Your first meal of the day is what kick-starts your metabolism and replenishes blood-sugar levels so you can focus and be productive throughout the day. When blood-sugar levels are low, she explains, it's much harder to focus and you're more likely to feel tired, irritable, and impatient.
Starting your day off on the right foot is all about balancing high-fiber carbohydrates with lean protein, De Fazio says. While all carbohydrates raise your blood-sugar levels, high-fiber carbs like fruits and whole-grain products do so at a steadier pace than sugar and low-fiber carbs like processed grain.