Our diet can do a lot of things for our life! There are food that can give you the energy that you need especially if you are unable to sleep properly. The right diet can fix your health problems!
So what are the best foods to eat for energy? Caffeine, spicy food, alcohol, chocolate, green tea, whole grains, pineapples, oranges, watermelon, beef and other meat are examples of food that can give you energy.
There is a reason how these foods can give you the energy that you need and why you should consider adding some of them in your diet!
10 Best Foods to Eat for Energy
1. Coffee
Coffee is one of the first options that many people might think of, but not everyone is a coffee lover.
Just in case, you should still know its benefits.
Coffee contains – well, you know it, caffeine!
Caffeine is a type of compound that can easily pass through your bloodstreams, allowing it to quickly reach your brain.
It inhibits the activity of adenosine, the neurotransmitter that manages the central nervous system.
Due to this, hormones called epinephrine increases quickly. These hormones stimulates your body and the brain which will give your energy a boost that you need.
2. Chocolate
Not just any chocolate, but it’s better if you eat dark chocolate to get the energy boost that you need.
Dark chocolate is richer in cocoa than regular or milk chocolate.
Cocoa contains antioxidants that can increase and regulate blood flow, helping you get the energy you need and fight off fatigue.
The better blood flow, the faster your brain and muscles can receive the oxygen it needs.
Dark chocolate will improve its functionality which can be useful during exercises or other physical activities.
As a bonus, the cocoa from dark chocolates contains antioxidant that can help improve and stabilize mood, gradually boosting mental energy as well.
3. Water
Everyone needs water and without it, we will easily die. And sometimes, some people tend to forget how much they need water or how important it is for their diet!
Drink enough water to maintain your energy. Being dehydrated can easily cause fatigue, draining your energy faster than usual.
4. Apples
Apples are a good source for carbs and fiber.
The way it has a natural sugar content mixed with carbs and fiber provides a slow and steady energy level for your body throughout the day.
Apples also have a high antioxidant that could slow down the digestion of carbohydrates, so it can release energy over a more extended period of time.
It is recommended to eat apples whole as juices and purees will remove fiber and the remaining health content are ingested faster which is why it may only provide you with quickly digested energy.
5. Bananas
Bananas taste great but they are also an excellent source of energy.
Though it has an ability to make you feel sleepy, it can give you a burst of energy when consumed in the morning!
Bananas are rich in carbohydrates, potassium and vitamin B6 which helps boost the body’s energy levels.
5. Fish
Salmon and tuna are examples of fatty fish — rich in protein, fatty acids and B vitamins.
It contains omega-3 fatty acids which reduces inflammation inside the body that causes fatigue. So, without the fatigue, you can get more energy than you usually do.
Vitamin B12 works together with folic acid to produce red blood cells and help iron work better in the body. Optimal levels of red blood cells and iron in the blood can reduce fatigue and increase energy.
6. Rice
Not just any rice, but brown rice is better than white rice when it comes to getting the right amount of energy.
Unlike white rice, brown rice is less processed and retains more of its natural, nutritional value.
It contains fiber, vitamins and minerals that are good for your health.
Because of the fiber it contains, brown rice also has low glycemic index. It helps regulate blood sugar levels, maintaining your energy levels throughout the day.
7. Sweet Potatoes
Not only are sweet potatoes delicious, but it’s also a good source for carbohydrates, fiber, manganese and vitamin A.
Its
fiber content and complex carbs will only be digested by your body
slowly and can sustain the energy that you need for the day.
Manganese also helps properly distribute nutrients inside your body in order to balance the energy you need.
8. Eggs
Eggs are rich in protein and leucine amino acids that helps stimulate the body’s energy levels.
In a way, egg can give you the energy that you need and also gives you the ability to stimulate it.
Eggs are also rich in vitamin B that helps break down the nutrients inside your body, regulating your energy levels.
9. Yogurt
Yogurt contains carbs that are mainly in the form of simple sugars
like lactose and galactose that can provide immediate energy the moment
it is broken down inside your body.
It is also rich in protein
which can help slow down the digestion of carbohydrates inside the body,
as a result, it slows down the release of sugars into your bloodstream,
sustaining your energy levels sufficiently.
Aside from lactose,
galactose and protein, yogurt also contain a lot of vitamin B2 and B12,
vitamins that are involved in cellular functionality. It helps the
formation of the molecular ATP, which your cells use for fuel.
10. Avocados
Avocados are actually known as a “superfood” because research has shown that it provides great health benefits.
The
reason why they are great fruits is because they are rich in healthy
fats and fiber. According to research, 84% of the healthy fats in
avocados come from monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids.
It helps promote optimal blood fat levels and also enhances the body’s ability to absorb nutrients.
These healthy fats from avocados can be stored inside your body to be used as energy sources.
Aside from the healthy fats, avocados also consists of carbohydrate content which regulates or maintains steady energy levels.
It
also has a great amount of B Vitamins which is necessary for optimal
functionality of the mitochondria in your cells, where cellular energy
is created.
Spicy foods can also help you gain energy for a short period of time and have a lot of health benefits but eating too much of its portion at least 2 hours before bed might make it harder for you to sleep instead.
Foods that are high in fat and protein can sustain you with the energy for the entire day, but too much of it can cause your body to experience certain side effects such as having a hard time sleeping.
Another food that can help are watermelons, it contains water and can be slow to be processed once consumed, releasing energy overtime for your body to use for the day.
Please keep in mind the food and drinks listed above can be mixed with other ingredients that may counter its effect that can help provide energy, so make sure to pick your food carefully and check the details first.
The food in this list will not only make you feel energetic by fighting off your fatigue but it can also help your overall health, keeping you away from other illnesses.
Eating the right food is also a good natural remedy so you don’t have to rely on medicine or health equipment that may cost a lot more than simply affording your food.
It’s important to maintain a healthy, balanced diet so your overall health will also stay properly stable.
Related Questions
What are the best foods to eat before going to sleep?
It is best to only eat a light meal before going to sleep. Let me give you a short list of ten foods that are a great choice for midnight snacks or late time dinners.
- Bananas
- Cheese
- Honey
- Oats
- Almonds
- Turkey
- Tea
- Cherry
- Salmon
- Sweet potatoes
(Read: “What are The Best Foods to Eat Before Going to Sleep?” for more)
Why do I have no energy and tired all the time?
There are many possible reasons why a person may feel tired and lacking in energy most of the time, but it can also be related to anemia or sleeping conditions like sleep apnea.
For anemia, it involves deficiencies in iron, folic acid or vitamin B12, all of it are necessary to get the right amount of energy the body needs.
If you also have sleeping problems like sleep apnea, you may not be getting the right amount of sleep or proper sleep at night. You can get a full six to eight hours of sleep and still wake up feeling tired.
For better diagnosis, it is highly recommended to undergo a physical examination to properly determine what the problem may be.
Why am I always tired even though I sleep a lot?
There are many reasons why you may still feel tired after sleeping and it’s possibly related to sleeping conditions most of the time.
Sleeping conditions like sleep apnea are becoming very common and can affect your body during sleep, making it unable to get the right amount of energy that you need once you wake up.
Oversleeping can also make you feel tired after waking up, so it’s best to only sleep for a recommended time of six hours.
Deficiencies or your diet can also affect your energy levels as well as lack of physical activity or exercise. There are possibly other hidden illnesses that may be draining your energy without your knowledge.