8 of the Best Foods That Can Help You To Be More Energized
With the busy lives that we lead it can be easy to feel a little tired or run down from time to time. But if you are getting enough sleep, haven’t got too much stress on your plate, and are still feeling lethargic, then it could be down to the foods that you are eating and the drinks that you are drinking. These can all have a massive impact on how well we feel and can hinder our day if we let them. And when you feel tired or that you’re lacking energy, it can be so hard to get up and get things done, right?
Now, all foods are going to give you some kind of energy as they all contain calories or something to keep you going. But the more processed foods that you consume, the more that your energy levels can feel depleted. There are preservatives and other things in processed foods which can impact our body and how much energy we have. The more natural our food is, the easier it will be for us to digest them and get the energy from them that we need.
With all of that in mind, here are some of the things that you should be included as part of your diet (as long as you don’t have an allergy, of course). They can help to keep you focused, keep you alert, keep you motivated, and make sure that your energy levels are maintained. Do you have a favorite? It would be good to hear whatenergy-inducing foods that you enjoy and what else you might add to the list.
Bananas
Bananas can be an amazing food for your energy levels as they are filled with plenty of good things like carbohydrates, potassium, and vitamins. When you have these in your diet, they are a sure fire way to feel energized. So it is no surprise that bananas feature highly in breakfast foods and things like smoothies; you get a massive nutritional bang for your buck. They are sweet tasting too, so can be just what you need when you’re after something sweet, but without all of the processed or refined junk.
Fish
Unless you’re a vegan or vegetarian, then fish should be on the menu around twice a week in your home. Fish, especially like salmon and tuna, are great sources of protein, good fats that you need, and the all-important B vitamins like vitamin B12 which is so important for energy levels. The fatty acids that are in fish have been shown to help reduce inflammation, which can go a long way to helping your energy levels, as your body doesn’t have to focus on dealing with that. Vitamin B12 is an important vitamin as it helps iron to work well in your body, which we all know can help you feel tired if you don’t have enough of it.
Water
It is a no-brainer that we need water in our diet to help us to have enough energy. The reason being is that we are made up of water, so need to replenish it all of the time. And if we are dehydrated, it can leave us feeling exhausted. Imagine being out in a hot desert, for instance. You’re hardly going to be leaping around with energy when you haven’t got any water to hydrate you. They say around eight glasses a day, but it should be more depending on the climate and if you are exercising or not.
espresso or a macchiato are some of the best for energy levels, but they can be quite strong. If you’re wondering what is a macchiato, then it is basically like an espresso with a dash of milk, so may be better for ‘beginners.’ But the reason they can help with energy is because of the caffeine in the beans. It can increase energy, help your mood to improve, mental and physical performance improves, and so on. Just make sure that you don’t become reliant on it, as
Brown Rice
Brown rice can be seen as a bit of a dull option for cooking with, and not just because it takes much longer to cook! But it really is packed full of nutrition, all of which can naturally help with your energy levels. As it isn’t processed (like the white rice is), it keeps all of its fiber and nutrition as it isn’t tampered with or anything taken away from it. Because of the high fiber level in brown rice, it means that it has a low glycaemic index. That helps to control blood sugar levels, and avoids the peaks and troughs that can come with foods that have a high glycaemic index.
Eggs
Eggs are a bit of a wonder food if you think about it, and they are easy to get a quick hit of protein into your diet. The protein helps them to fill you up, as well as keeping hunger at bay. The protein also helps you to have a pretty steady and sustained energy level, as it doesn’tlead to a spike in your blood sugar levels like foods that are high in sugar and low in protein do. Eggs also contain B vitamins (which are actually only found in animal-based products). And as has been discussed, these can help you to have more energy. If you are a vegan, then looking for a B12 supplement to take can be a good idea, as you wouldn’t be getting any of it otherwise.
Apples
Ah, the humble apple. But a pretty amazing fruit that can be a great addition to your diet. The good news is that all of these foods, and apples included, are easy to come across. So you can have some pretty ‘super foods’ already in at your home.
Apples are great because they have plenty of fiber (as long as you munch the skin), and they can be a good source of carbohydrate too. And as it is a completely natural source, it means you’ll have less of a blood sugar spike than if you had a candy bar with the same amount, for example. One little-known fact about apples is that they are a food with a pretty high antioxidant level as well. And this can help you to feel more energised as it helps to control the release of the carbohydrates, giving you a steady surge of energy. Just be sure to eat an apple whole if you want the nutritional boost, though. Juicing them or making smoothies with them can remove the fiber, and just give you that hit of carbs, rather than having both.
Avocados
Avocados are a bit of a superfood of late, making their way onto the designs of certain things, as well as memes. But they are a superfood because they pack a really good nutritional punch and have a number of health benefits. They are rich in fats (but the good kinds of fat that you need), and they have plenty of fiber too. Because of which, they help you to have a steady energy level, as well as the fats in avocados helping your blood sugar to stay steady.
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