Do you often feel like you lack energy to get through the day? Are you sick of feeling exhausted? Are you struggling to meet your daily commitments? Do you rely too much on stimulants like coffee and unhealthy energy drinks to get you going? If you lack energy and motivation, the problem could be your diet. Here is a list of healthy foods and drinks that will boost your energy levels if consumed regularly:
groats
When you need a quick energy boost, you might be tempted to reach for a candy bar. Before taking the chocolate, consider enjoying a bowl of oatmeal instead. A candy bar will give you the energy you need for only a short time before crashing again when your body releases more of a hormone called insulin. Oatmeal is better for you than candy. It contains slow-release carbohydrates. These slow-release carbohydrates provide you with energy for a longer duration, without the energy crash.
If you feel like you’re out of energy mid-morning, consider having oatmeal for breakfast each day. Think you don’t have time to make oatmeal for breakfast in the morning? In truth, it doesn’t take long to make oatmeal. You can buy packets of oatmeal that you mix with milk before putting them in the microwave for two minutes. They are available for purchase in almost all physical and online supermarkets.
Cashew nut
Eating a serving of cashews every day as a snack will improve your health and provide you with extra energy. Cashews contain healthy monounsaturated fats, carbohydrates, fiber and protein. Additionally, cashews contain minerals such as manganese, magnesium, and copper. There is a connection between these minerals and energy production. If you feel your energy levels starting to drop during the day at work, consider eating a handful of cashews. However, try not to consume too many cashews on any given day if you are trying to control your weight. Healthy fats are good for your health, but you can still gain weight by consuming them too much.
Hummus
Hummus is a chickpea-based dip that originated in the Middle East. Chickpeas contain fiber, protein, healthy fats, carbohydrates, vitamin B9, iron and magnesium. All B vitamins help convert carbohydrates into energy. Iron increases your red blood cell count, which makes it easier for oxygen to reach your cells. Magnesium contains enzymes that regulate blood sugar.
Hummus goes well with several dishes like salad, falafel, bread and crunchy vegetables. You can buy ready-made hummus from a store or make your own using chickpeas, olive oil, garlic, and lemon.
Lenses
Lentils and other legumes are an excellent choice for restoring dwindling energy levels. Lentils contain fiber and slow-release carbohydrates. They are also full of iron, which is needed to make hemoglobin in red blood cells. Hemoglobin carries oxygen to your body’s cells, tissues, and organs. The folate in lentils and legumes will also help convert your food into energy.
If you’re unsure how to cook with lentils, consider adding them to soups, salads, or rice dishes. You can find recipes that include lentils all over the internet for anyone in need of a little culinary inspiration.
Beans
Beans are great for your overall health because they’re high in fiber, protein, antioxidants, and slow-release carbs. Any food with slow-release carbohydrates will stabilize your blood sugar and provide you with extra energy throughout the day. Most beans are nutritionally similar, so pick the ones you like best. Beans are excellent in soups, dips and salads. There are many bean recipes in cookbooks and online.
Bananas
Bananas contain less water than other types of fruit. Because they have less water, they have more calories and carbohydrates per weight. Bananas contain glucose, fructose and sucrose. The combination of three types of sugar means that bananas provide both instant and slow energy to fuel your body.
Bananas are delicious on their own, added to breakfast cereal, with yogurt, or blended into a smoothie. They are also an ingredient in several desserts, such as banana bread and banoffee pie.
Greek yogurt
Low-fat Greek yogurt contains protein, slow-release carbohydrates, and B vitamins. Protein helps the body burn calories from carbohydrates. Slow-release carbohydrates fuel the body for hours. B vitamins help your body convert energy from carbohydrates into glucose.
Greek yogurt is delicious when combined with fruit and manuka honey or maple syrup. It also goes well with cereals. If you like garlic and cucumber, you can also try a delicious Greek dip called tzatziki sauce. The tzatziki sauce contains Greek yogurt, cucumbers, olive oil, garlic and oregano. Tzatziki is delicious with pork, lamb, fish and salad.
Green tea
Like coffee, green tea contains caffeine. However, some people find that drinking green tea provides them with more stable energy than a cup of coffee. Green tea contains less caffeine than coffee and may be healthier for you if you suffer from insomnia or anxiety. In addition, green tea contains an amino acid acid called L-theanine. L-theanine may work in conjunction with caffeine to improve cognitive function.
You can enjoy the green tea hot or cold. You can brew green tea yourself or buy it as a ready-made drink from many different stores.
Cinnamon tea
Cinnamon is beneficial for anyone looking for increased energy and focus. Cinnamon is an ingredient in several types of desserts. However, you can also use it to make cinnamon tea. There is a link between the smell of cinnamon, faster metabolism and increased alertness. Cinnamon is a warm and sweet spice. When making cinnamon tea, you don’t need to add sugar to sweeten the drink.
Lawyers
Avocados contain protein, fiber, and nutrients such as vitamin B6, magnesium, and folate, which help the body metabolize food for energy. Avocados also contain monounsaturated fats, which will provide you with energy throughout the day.
You can add avocados to salad, eat them with eggs on toast, put them in soups, or mash them in guacamole to eat with your nachos. There are many tasty avocado recipes online.
Extra energy and productivity
Now you know which healthy foods and beverages can provide your body with the extra energy it needs to stay motivated and productive during the day. When you consume more energy-dense foods and drinks, you will need fewer chemical-laden energy drinks or cups of coffee. Reducing your intake of unhealthy drinks will improve your health and help you live a long and happy life.