3 Reasons to Stop Eating Cereal

While to the naked eye breakfast cereal may seem like a quick, healthy breakfast option there’s really not much good about them. In fact, most cereals are loaded with ingredients that have no business being eaten at all. So not only do they not provide any nutritional benefits, they might actually be making you, and your children, sick and causing behavior problems. In fact most breakfast cereals marketed to children have about 85% more sugar and 60% more sodium than those marketed to adults.

Here are the top 3 reasons you should stay away from breakfast cereals, especially the ones aimed at children.

1. Artificial flavors, dyes and preservatives.

Most kids cereals are brightly colored to grab the attention of the little people they’re targeting. Unfortunately food dye has been linked to a host of health problems and behavior issues in children including hyperactivity and ADD. To create a long shelf life preservatives are usually a part of the mix, including  BHT, BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole) and TBHQ (tertiary butylhydroquinone) which have been linked to even more behavioral problems and are believed to be carcinogenic. Artificial flavors have been linked to headaches, allergies and many other health issues, keep them out of your diet at all costs.

2. GMOs. 

Unless it’s clearly labeled as not containing GMOs or certified organic you can be pretty sure it’s got GMOs which have been tied to so many health issues including allergies and autoimmune disease.

3. Nutrient Stripped.

Cereal is a heavily processed food made up of grains that have mostly been stripped of their nutrition and then refortified with synthetic vitamins and minerals. There’s nothing natural about cereal and many of them are also high in pesticides as well.

 Change your view of cereal. 

If you really don’t want to give up cereal you should at least consider changing how you look at it. Instead of thinking of it as a breakfast staple or a healthy snack think of it as a once in a while treat, like candy. Start your day with a healthy meal to get your body and brain ready for the day and have a sprinkle of your favorite cereal over some high protein Greek yogurt to help counteract the effect on your blood sugar. Choosing  organic cereals will also help reduce  pesticides and GMOs.

For more ideas on great breakfasts to feed your family check out my article  Easy Breakfasts to Improve Mood and Behavior.