As you probably know, everyone feels drained from time to time. Even the happiest and most successful people in the world experience bouts of exhaustion, stress, anxiety, and depression. But what many people don’t know is that these feelings are often caused by a lack of energy. The energy we’re talking about here isn’t just the caffeine-fuelled drive you get from drinking Red Bull or another popular energy drink — although those can be a helpful boost sometimes! Rather, we’re referring to your body’s natural stores of vigor, vitality, and stamina. The kind of energy you get from eating wholesome foods like nuts, fruits and vegetables.
Benefits of Pranayama for The body And Soul
Why is it so important to increase your energy?
You may think that feeling a little run down every now and then is normal and nothing to worry about. However, if you experience consistent fatigue, it could be a sign of a more serious health problem. One such condition is adrenal fatigue. Adrenal fatigue is caused by a combination of excessive stress and poor diet — in other words, it can be treated by increasing your energy through food. Basically, the adrenal glands produce cortisol, a hormone that helps us cope with stress. It also regulates blood sugar, breaks down fat, and controls inflammation. If your body is producing too much cortisol, it can lead to a host of unpleasant symptoms, including fatigue, cravings for sugar, weight gain, and weakened immunity. If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, it’s a good idea to increase your energy. Perhaps more importantly, though, people who don’t eat enough energy-boosting foods are at risk of chronic disease.
How to increase your energy with food
As you’ve just read, one way to increase your energy is by adjusting your diet. There are, however, three important things to consider when doing so. These are macronutrient balance, micronutrient balance, and food quality. When it comes to macronutrient balance, you want to make sure you get the right amount of protein, carbohydrates and fat. Now, when we talk about micronutrients, we mean vitamins and minerals — the stuff your body needs to function properly! When it comes to food quality, you want to choose foods that are as unprocessed as possible. This is because many of the nutrients in raw fruits, vegetables and other unprocessed foods are lost during the production process.
The best food to boost your energy
Now, we know that all foods can boost your energy in one way or another — but there are some that do it better than others. Generally speaking, the best foods for boosting energy are those that are rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Vitamins B and C, iron, zinc and magnesium are great for giving you an energy boost. You can also boost your energy by increasing your protein intake — protein is a fantastic source of energy! Nuts and seeds are especially good as they contain a blend of vitamins, minerals, protein and healthy fats. Beans, too, are an excellent source of protein as well as fibre, vitamins and minerals.
Nuts and seeds: A great source of healthy fats and protein
Nuts and seeds are excellent for boosting your energy. They contain healthy fats, vitamins, fibre, minerals, and protein. Nuts, in particular, are a great source of protein. One serving (which is about a handful) contains about 10 grams of protein — about 30% of the recommended daily intake. Not only that, but nuts are also a good source of vitamin E, magnesium and fibre. Vitamin E is excellent for boosting your energy as it is a powerful antioxidant. Fibre is essential for keeping your digestive system healthy and regular. A healthy digestive system is one that functions at its best and will, therefore, boost your energy.
Beans: Your protein source for the day
Beans are a great source of protein and fibre. They’re also easy to prepare and can be eaten on their own or added to salads and soups. Beans are also very affordable and can be bought in bulk for even cheaper. Unlike meat, you don’t have to worry about the environmental impact of eating beans — they’re less resource-intensive! Beans also contain two types of fibre, known as soluble and insoluble fibre. Both are useful for keeping your digestive system healthy and regular. Beans are also a good source of iron and zinc — two minerals that are essential for boosting energy.
Dark Leafy Greens: Another protein-packed bit of food
Finally, we come to greens. Although they’re not packed with protein, greens are a great source of protein. Just like beans, greens are an excellent source of iron and zinc. Greens are also a good source of vitamins A, B, and C, as well as magnesium. Like beans, greens are also very easy to prepare. You can eat them raw as a salad or steam them and add them to soups and stews. A great way to get the same nutrients that you would through green vegetables is by taking Quercetin supplements.
Conclusion
Whatever way you choose to increase your energy, make sure you do it. It’s important to be healthy and feel your best — not just for yourself but for the people who love and depend on you. If you’re experiencing consistent fatigue, it might be a sign that you’re not getting enough energy from your diet. Boosting your energy can help you cope with life’s challenges better.
