Find out the super benefits of Muesli

Breakfast is arguably the most important meal of the day and if you are searching for the perfect breakfast then look no further than a hearty bowl of real Swiss muesli. But why?.. you ask... well because it:

1. Boosts concentration and energy levels
Eating high fiber foods like oats, yogurt, fresh fruits and nuts are low calorie compared to snack foods like breakfast cereals and snack bars. They provide needed nutrients in your diet, which helps you feel less hungry for longer and provides you with more energy.

2. Improves your overall nutrition
Eating muesli will enhance your overall nutrition, and also help to regulate cholesterol. Breakfast is essential to body metabolism and can prevent the risk of heart disease such as arteriosclerosis.

3. Breakfast eaters are known to exercise more
The other benefit of eating breakfast is being able to consume more food. People who normally skip breakfast consume more snacks throughout the day, and have a heavy dinner. For that reason, it is advisable to eat a balanced breakfast that incorporate fiber, fruit and protein. Recent studies indicate that people who eat breakfast exercise more since they have adequate energy to do so.

4. Rejuvenates the body
The high calorie intake during breakfast allows your body to function better, meaning it helps you become less hungry during the day. The body burns more calories in the morning and the metabolism reduces near nighttime.

5. Loosing weight
For people are keen to shed few pounds, eating a healthy breakfast like muesli l is the best solution. A good balanced breakfast will improve your metabolism, which significantly burns more calories.

The greatest disadvantage of not having breakfast is that it lowers your blood sugar, which increases your cravings for food during the day. As a result, this tends to hinder weight loss and might even lead to weight gain.

Today's yummy muesli...

Mmmm muesli. So here is this morning's muesli offering:

• some oat, barley and rye flakes
• grated Granny Smith and an apple from my garden
• handful of blueberries
• sprinkling of raisins
• cup of milk
• nutty nibbles for added crunch
• squeeze of a lemon
• drop of agave syrup

and..... VOILA

Who was Dr Bircher?

Maximilian Oskar Bircher was born in Switzerland on August 22, 1867. After studying medicine in Zurich, the young doctor opened a general practice in Zurich's industrial quarter.

During the first year his practice was open, Bircher-Benner fell ill with a slight case of jaundice.

It is said that by eating raw apples, the doctor was soon healed. Bircher-Benner became more and more convinced of the healing power of raw fruits and vegetables. Between 1895 and 1900 he conducted numerous nutritional experiments with raw vegetables on himself, his family and even the patients who seemed appropriate. He finally developed the dish that has become a classic around the globe, Bircher Muesli.

In November 1897, Bircher-Benner opened a small private clinic for dietetics and physical healing methods on the Asylstrasse in Zurich. In 1904 the newly qualified doctor of medicine, who was finally housed in the villa district on Zurichberg, opened a new sanatorium in a sunny southwestern location. It was called "Vital Force," which is a key term from the German lifestyle reform movement which states that people should pattern their lives after the logic determined by nature, thereby living in harmony with nature. The clinic's reputation soon spread outside Switzerland and patients included princes and industry moguls, musicians and literary figures.

The new nutritional value teachings of Bircher-Benner were a stark contrast to the usual dietary notions, according to which the value of foodstuffs was measured by its protein and calorie content. According to Bircher-Benner, food should no longer be just a means to satiate hunger or feast upon, more importantly it should keep the body healthy. Meals should contain little or no meat with potatoes, dark bread, milk and milk products.

Dr. Bircher-Benner died on January 24, 1939 at the age of 72. He did not live to see the opening of the "People's Sanatorium for a Lifestyle Based on Nature." Thanks to the donation of a patient, this sanatorium, run according to his ideas, was opened in the same year in Zurich. In addition, the "Vital Force" Sanatorium was renamed as the "Bircher-Benner Clinic" in his memory in 1939.

What is the original Muesli?

The original Bircher Muesli recipe is proportionately the opposite of most muesli available in today's supermarket varieties, calling for far more fruit than grains. One serving based on the original recipe consists approximately of:

• 1 tablespoon rolled oats, soaked in 2–3 tablespoons water
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon cream
• 200 grams apple (about one large, preferably a sour variety), finely grated and mixed with the above directly before serving
• optionally top with 1 tablespoon ground hazelnuts or almonds

The original recipe used sweetened condensed milk instead of cream, a compromise due to hygiene concerns regarding fresh milk products in 1900 (bovine tuberculosis etc.), before pasteurisation and refrigeration became commonly available. The original recipe also advised to soak the oats in water overnight as raw oats need a lengthy soaking to soften them before eating. This long soaking time is unnecessary with modern rolled "quick oats", which the manufacturers already soften through a steam treatment. While phytic acid is an anti-nutrient and strong chelator of important minerals, it is removed during the steam process, making muesli desirable, given its positive antioxidant qualities.