Sunday, 25 December 2011
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If you are not an athlete or a serious sports fanatic, you might think that food choices that give the maximum energy are not your main concern. However, if you are always on the go, you will actually find yourself yearning for more energy throughout the day, especially if you are still looking at the prospect of several hours of overtime and you already feel like hitting the sack.
Most likely, you will think of getting another cup of coffee or downing an entire chocolate bar, thinking the extra sugar will give you the boost you need, and then wind up disappointed when it only manages to give you an energy boost for an hour or less.
The following food items are the best things you can opt for when you are in need of a serious energy boost:
1. Complex carbohydrates are actually better choices than simple carbohydrates like sugars and processed flour. Indeed, many people think candies and sugary juices will give them the energy they need, as seen by children who become hyperactive from too much sweets consumed in one sitting. However, these foods, along with pastries and baked goods that are high in white sugar may result in complications for your body’s processing of blood sugar, giving you overall low energy levels instead of the energy boost you are looking for. Instead of reaching for that chocolate bar, you will likely be better off finding foods that are high in complex carbohydrates; an example would be potatoes and sweet potatoes. Of course, French fries may be made of potatoes but taking much of them will spell added inches on your waist line, while also giving your heart added strain from the added fat. Baked potatoes will be the better option. In terms of breads, whole-wheat options are best, as they take longer to digest while giving you the energy you need.
2. Proteins go best for a heavy breakfast and lunch. Protein-rich food, like meat, eggs, fish, poultry, nuts, and seeds, are enough to give you the energy you need for the tasks throughout the day. As such, you would be wise to stock up on them early in the day, instead of waiting for the time when you are already sluggish and craving sweets! Just be sure to pick lean cuts of meat, and opt for your poultry and fish without the skin, as they do nothing but give you added fat.
3. Listen to your mom’s voice telling you to finish your vegetables. Hands-down, green leafy veggies are still the winner when it comes to giving you the energy you need. This is because they are usually rich in magnesium as well as B vitamins. You can pick from spinach, broccoli, beet greens, mustard greens, or just about any green leafy thing that grows in the ground. With this in mind, you can actually enjoy your salad greens with greater gusto.
4. Be sure you get plenty of water. Everyone knows the daily requirement of 8 glasses of water, but if you are doing plenty of energy-sapping tasks, feel free to down more than that. While you may opt for sugary sodas and juices when doing heavy tasks, water will actually do you the greater good, as it helps in waking you up and actually answers thirst much better than the former. Sugary drinks will only make you feel more sluggish and even increase your thirst. Experts recommend getting a drink of water, preferably in room temperature, whenever you feel a sense of mental fogginess, or when fatigue starts to sink in. Cold water has been shown to slow down digestion, so it would be best to take your water in room temperature instead.
These food choices will likely help you maximize your energy, especially when you need it the most. However, it is not limited to the times when you are already desperate for an energy boost; if you can develop these healthy eating habits on a regular basis, you will find that your energy levels are maximized that you would not even need the extra boost for the extra working hours on special days, as you would have plenty of energy stocked away for those times!
Food Choices for Maximum Energy
Most likely, you will think of getting another cup of coffee or downing an entire chocolate bar, thinking the extra sugar will give you the boost you need, and then wind up disappointed when it only manages to give you an energy boost for an hour or less.
The following food items are the best things you can opt for when you are in need of a serious energy boost:
1. Complex carbohydrates are actually better choices than simple carbohydrates like sugars and processed flour. Indeed, many people think candies and sugary juices will give them the energy they need, as seen by children who become hyperactive from too much sweets consumed in one sitting. However, these foods, along with pastries and baked goods that are high in white sugar may result in complications for your body’s processing of blood sugar, giving you overall low energy levels instead of the energy boost you are looking for. Instead of reaching for that chocolate bar, you will likely be better off finding foods that are high in complex carbohydrates; an example would be potatoes and sweet potatoes. Of course, French fries may be made of potatoes but taking much of them will spell added inches on your waist line, while also giving your heart added strain from the added fat. Baked potatoes will be the better option. In terms of breads, whole-wheat options are best, as they take longer to digest while giving you the energy you need.
2. Proteins go best for a heavy breakfast and lunch. Protein-rich food, like meat, eggs, fish, poultry, nuts, and seeds, are enough to give you the energy you need for the tasks throughout the day. As such, you would be wise to stock up on them early in the day, instead of waiting for the time when you are already sluggish and craving sweets! Just be sure to pick lean cuts of meat, and opt for your poultry and fish without the skin, as they do nothing but give you added fat.
3. Listen to your mom’s voice telling you to finish your vegetables. Hands-down, green leafy veggies are still the winner when it comes to giving you the energy you need. This is because they are usually rich in magnesium as well as B vitamins. You can pick from spinach, broccoli, beet greens, mustard greens, or just about any green leafy thing that grows in the ground. With this in mind, you can actually enjoy your salad greens with greater gusto.
4. Be sure you get plenty of water. Everyone knows the daily requirement of 8 glasses of water, but if you are doing plenty of energy-sapping tasks, feel free to down more than that. While you may opt for sugary sodas and juices when doing heavy tasks, water will actually do you the greater good, as it helps in waking you up and actually answers thirst much better than the former. Sugary drinks will only make you feel more sluggish and even increase your thirst. Experts recommend getting a drink of water, preferably in room temperature, whenever you feel a sense of mental fogginess, or when fatigue starts to sink in. Cold water has been shown to slow down digestion, so it would be best to take your water in room temperature instead.
These food choices will likely help you maximize your energy, especially when you need it the most. However, it is not limited to the times when you are already desperate for an energy boost; if you can develop these healthy eating habits on a regular basis, you will find that your energy levels are maximized that you would not even need the extra boost for the extra working hours on special days, as you would have plenty of energy stocked away for those times!
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