Anyone who has ever had a full-time job, been a parent or pushed through a long day at school is familiar with the feeling of exhaustion. For some, getting up in the morning is a horrendous feat, for others the afternoons seem to drag on, while for the vast majority making it all the way to bedtime is a difficult task.
If you’re anything like the majority of the population, you’ll make a break for the closest coffee shop or office break room at various points throughout the day to refill your mug with yet another cup of coffee in hopes of jumpstarting your system or boosting your energy if only for a few more hours. But what if there was a better alternative; one that could boost your energy and prevent the highs and lows that caffeine brings to so many people? Well the good news is there is an alternative and it has to do with what we consume on a daily basis.
Eat Iron From Plant Sources
This recommendation is especially important for women. Nearly 10% of women between the ages of 20-49 aren’t receiving the recommended daily value of iron, which has a dramatic effect on their energy levels. Iron is extremely important in delivering oxygen to the rest of the body as well as making sure the immune system stays strong. Beans, lentils, spinach, and sesame seeds are great dietary choices that help boost levels of iron and essentially one’s energy levels. As an added bonus, eating these foods along with foods high in vitamin-C aid in the absorption of iron in our diets.
Eat More Superfruits
We’re all guilty from time to time of falling into a routine, especially when it comes to what we eat. We’re busy, so we grab a banana on the way out the door. Easy. But nutritionists emphasize that eating the same amount or kind of produce has a negative effect on our bodies. By choosing a wider variety of fruits for example, will produce less oxidative stress on our systems, which is one of the precursors to aging and disease. For an easy fix, experts suggest keeping a bowl a fruit in the house that has a variety of all different options to make sure you’re getting the benefits from each and surprising your body instead of repeating the same old routine.
Fats Are Not Your Enemy (Well… Not All Of Them Anyway)
Over the years, fats have gotten a bad reputation, and some with good reason, but experts urge people to eat a certain amount of healthy fats, which are essential for the proper functioning of certain organs and bodily functions. The body uses fatty acids to store energy and provide cushioning for all your other organs. Healthy fats are also needed in order for certain types of antioxidants to be absorbed from the digestive tract. These antioxidants play an important role in providing energy because they fight free radicals and keeps cells happy.
Eat Foods in Season
One of the easiest ways to add a little energy to your day is to eat foods that are in season. Shopping locally at places like the farmer’s market not only helps your local economy but also makes sure you’re getting the freshest fruits and vegetables around. Most produce from farmer’s markets were harvested less than 48 hours before reaching the stands in the market meaning that since they didn’t have to travel far the produce is reaching its peak providing you with optimal levels of nutrients.
Choose Frozen Foods
This is one that maybe not many people have heard of before and seems like the opposite of what you should be doing. Didn’t we just tell you to eat fresh and local? According to nutritionists, freezing the produce actually locks in the nutrients so it can be just as healthy if not more healthy than fresh produce unless it was just picked. The minute produce is harvested it begins to lose its nutrients so an easy way to prevent this is simply to buy frozen.
