Breakfast in western or local style?

Thứ năm, 14/08/2014 00:00

In order to have enough energy as well as proper nutrition for physicality, everyone should eat three meals per day. Each meal certainly has its own role and nutritional value.



A warning sent out by the World Health Organization (WHO) stated that 70% of cases of disease are closely related to an unfavorable diet. It has been proven that even if we eat three meals per day, if they are erratic then one may still end up needing to see a doctor.

But if we look at the criteria of having an effective recovery for your body then breakfast is the most important meal. The reason is very simple, because your body expends lot energy while sleeping. It wouldn’t be correct if you think that your body shuts down and is passive during sleep. It is said that antibodies against hepatitis, influenza, and that are antiviral are rejuvenated during sleep. Collagen fibers that keep skin’s elasticity are recycled and RBC is produced by the marrow of bones, in a much faster tempo than compared with day time.

Therefore our body, especially our brain, consumes our energy while sleeping, even more than a person who work hard like an athlete. That is the reason why a patient suffering from any chronic illness will have a slower recovery if they don’t sleep well and long enough. It is also these reasons why we need to eat when we wake up.

Once knowing that breakfast is so important, the next practical question is what type of breakfast will be the most beneficial to our health. To be able to find the answer, researchers at the Paris University have studied all different types of breakfast from all over the world.


Their answer was based in objectivity, it was a surprise to nutritional experts, because the answer is soup, such as “Phở”, fresh rice noodle with beef, fresh rice noodle with pork or porridge. It seems that our own foods will be the best for our health. International experts from developed countries received low rating for a heavy breakfast served with bread, butter, jam and ham. Compliments were extended to the Asian community because our breakfast always includes dishes served with, or as, soup.

Dishes served with soup will help diners feel full longer because it slows down the process of metabolising and converting sugar. This helps to suppress appetite even just a few hours after breakfast.

Enhance resistance to diseases and specifically the function to mobilize phagocytic and leukocytes thanks to the diversity of our breakfast. Our breakfast changes daily, unlike that of Western countries.

Release the hormone that brings optimism, like endorphins out of the pituitary gland which makes diners feel happy before they have left the restaurant.

All the advantages of a breakfast-style "made in Vietnam" would be feasible only if it is clean and delicious. In other words, if you want to eat well you have to eat delicious foods. If it is possible to fulfill all the criteria mentioned above in our country, unique and diverse dishes will be undoubtedly indispensable to our country's tourism, adding more points to compete with other countries.

Vietnamese food is interesting. Not only in the figurative but it is clever when it is simple, yet very profound. Breakfast also was known as a temporary meal. Greet a new day by having a good breakfast to be able to have full energy to make everyone happy, nothing else could be cleverer?

Dr Hoang Le Luong

(Extracted from articles about Medicine in Vietnam Cuisine dedicated only to 2014 Golden Spoon contest)


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