Do you suffer from low energy levels? Are low energy levels keeping you from running your business, taking care of your family and living the life of your dreams? With a little planning, you can add these energy boosting foods to your diet, and they will help you raise your energy levels without the side effects of too much sugar and caffeine.
If you don’t plan ahead, it can be difficult to maintain energy and beat sugar and food cravings. Try these four energy boosting snacks. These energy-boosting foods will keep you full and satisfied until your next meal; instead of snacking on cakes, cookies and pre-packaged junk food from the snack machine.
Protein rich foods
Protein slows down the absorption of sugars which balances your blood sugar and prevents the fatigued feeling you feel in between meals. Protein has been shown to increase your energy, balance your hormones and lose weight. Some protein-rich snacks include foods like yogurt and fruit, hummus and vegetables and eggs. Adding quinoa as a quick snack after breakfast with cinnamon or in a salad before dinner can help prevent your sugar and food cravings. Lean meats and fish are rich in protein and can be eaten alone or added to mini meals. Pairing protein rich foods with complex carbohydrates and heart healthy fats can help boost your energy, help you manage your weight without skimping on nutrients like B vitamins, chromium, and magnesium.
Fiber-rich foods
Fiber-rich foods slow down release and absorption of sugar in the blood, lower cholesterol levels, promote digestive health; promote regularity and feed your gut bacteria. Fruits and vegetables are full of fiber, nutrient and mineral the body needs.
Eating fiber-rich foods can help you lose and manage your weight by making you feel full, so you end up eating less. These foods have been shown to decrease your risk of heart disease; soluble fiber absorbs extra fats and cholesterol in the body which means the fats can’t build up in your arteries. Fiber decreases your risk of atherosclerosis and provides nutrients like magnesium and potassium that promote heart health.
Heart healthy fats
Eating foods rich in healthy fats like omega-3’s, plant-based saturated fats and polyunsaturated fats can help you feel full in between meals and can be paired with other energy boosting foods. Grabbing a handful of walnuts, pecans or sunflower seeds or adding them to a salad are quick ways of adding these energy boosting foods to your diet.
Heart healthy fats decrease inflammation in the body and reduce your risk of developing chronic diseases. Inflammation in the body is triggered by eating a diet high in processed foods, not getting enough sleep, unmanaged stress, and environmental toxins. The best way to fight inflammation with food is to eat heart healthy fats like mono and polyunsaturated fats and omega 3 fatty acids; these fats are found in walnuts, avocados, flaxseed, fish and olive oil.
With a little planning , you can use these energy boosting foods as snacks that will keep you full and satisfied until your next meal.
