What Foods Give you Energy
Throughout the day, people get tired and need an extra boost in their diet to wake them up so they can continue with their schedules. More often than not, people reach for the coffee, snacks, and energy drinks. However, these things are not the best choice when you want extra energy. They will only give you a short energy boost, leaving you tired once more when their effects wear off. These snacks fall under the category of simple carbohydrates. These carbohydrates are broken down easily, providing a quick spike in energy that fades quickly as well. On the other hand, complex carbohydrates and other nutrients are much harder to break down, providing a longer period of energy. So what foods provide the best energy boost and what else can you do to stay energized throughout the day? This article will give you a few examples.
When looking for foods to give you energy, there are things to both look for and avoid. First of all, when you’re reaching for the snacks, check the nutrition facts. Is there an unnecessary amount of sugar in the snack? You can do better than that. A healthy energizing snack doesn’t have to be loaded with sweets. In fact, the key is to avoid things that are loaded with sugar, which cause your energy to peak up and then crash down, leaving you moodier than before. Focus on things like whole grains, nuts, protein with high levels of omega-3, and of course vegetables. You can grab a handful of almonds, walnuts, hazelnuts, or cashews. What about if you’re in the office or at school and you can’t reach these things easily? Don’t immediately reach for the candy bar. Instead, look for something a little healthier in a vending machine. For instance, sometimes vending machines have packs of nuts or trail mix. Many vending machines have baked chips now as well, which are a healthy alternative to normal chips. These are certainly better than that tempting chocolate muffin. If you can, pack a snack from home. Bringing an apple or some yogurt can give you the energy boost you needed to make it through the rest of the day.
If you really do not have access to a healthy snack and your energy level is dropping, there are a couple of things you can try. First of all, have you tried drinking water? Your hunger may be due to thirst. Furthermore, if you try drinking a glass of ice water, the temperature may shock you awake. You can also try chewing gum as well. Try a sugar free gum with a strong flavor. The chewing will prompt your body to start breaking down nutrients for energy. The flavor in your mouth will make it seem as if you’re eating something. If all other options just are not working and you desperately need something to wake you up, then it is time to go to the coffee pot. The caffeine will speed up your metabolism and give you an energy boost. Coffee also contains antioxidants which are good for you. The main problem with drinking coffee is that people tend to load it up with sugar and cream, making an originally good drink incredibly fattening and unhealthy. Drink your coffee black or at most with no more than a spoonful of sugar and a drop of cream.
Getting energy from healthy foods is excellent. Eating those sugary foods for a quick fix will only give you a quick headache and drop in energy. Stick with natural foods and you will feel more energized over time.
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