We published this article first thing in the morning to get the message out to those of you reading with a full cup of coffee in your hands. If you're like most caffeine addicts, you probably find that at 2:30 you're ready to fall asleep again and it seems like the only solution is caffeine. Just like the old college days of chugging sodas to stay up all night and cram before a test, products containing caffeine can be unnatural and are normally associated with a crash later.
You don't need to feed your caffeine addiction three times a day to stay awake. Your body is programmed to metabolize nutrients from certain foods for energy. If you manipulate your current diet, you can have long lasting all day energy to get done everything you need to get done without the side effects or crash later. Here's how:
- Green Tea
This super tea has been show to aid in weight loss with its positive effects on metabolism and it gives you energy naturally so you can get through your day without caffeine. According to an article on WebMD, Katherine Tallmadge, RD, LD, a nutritionist and spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association says, "I believe in green tea based on everything written about it." It also improves performance so it can be very beneficial when taken before you head out to the gym.
- Fruit
Instead of having a doughnut at the office, grab an apple! Fruits such as apples, bananas, and oranges are great sources of important vitamins like vitamin C and potassium. Plus, they harness natural sugar to fuel your body the natural way. Have some blueberries or kiwis for awesome antioxidants that fight free radicals and slow down your aging process so you can have the youthful energy you always wanted. Fruit is also low in calories so you can eat more and feel full without the guilt.
- Water
It may seem strange that water could give you energy when it has no calories, no carbs, no protein. Don't underestimate the power of hydration. Half the time feelings associated with hunger and cravings, headaches, fatigue, sleepiness and lack of energy are all just symptoms of dehydration. Water keeps your body hydrated and ready to roll so the energy factories in your body stay working at their best. Water is more important than food. Without it you cannot live so don't deprive yourself. Make sure you have water with you wherever you can and notice the refreshing energy you feel!
- Nuts Nuts such as pecans, walnuts, and almonds are a great source of essential fatty acids, which your body can use for immediate energy when you need it. It may seem contradictory to encourage eating fat, but the high yield of calories associated with just one gram of fat - 9 calories - is perfect for times when you need to keep it moving. Just a few grams of nuts can fill you up like a full meal and help you avoid snacking on junk throughout the day. Plus your body can readily use this energy all day long because lipids are slow digesting. Nuts are good for you, but should be eaten in moderation. In 2003, the FDA approved the following health claim for 7 kinds of nuts: "Scientific evidence suggests but does not prove that eating 1.5 oz per day of most nuts as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol may reduce the risk of heart disease."
You want to avoid some foods too, specifically those that rob you of energy and make it even harder to work. Stay away from processed sugars and candy treats, greasy foods such as burgers and pizza, junk food such as potato chips, fried foods, fast food, food extremely high in carbs such as large sandwiches and sodas. These foods may give you a quick rush of so-called energy, but you will soon feel lethargic and want to take a nap, which doesn't exactly go along with your productive day, now does it? Make sure you are feeding your body properly and not just eating for taste. Fill up on green tea, water, nuts and fruit for energy to handle everything that life throws at you and then some.
