Foods To Avoid When Trying To Increase Your Energy

Elisha Danine, Nutritionist for the May Energy Boosting Challenge lists some of the foods to avoid if you want to increase your energy:
Many of us are low or deficient in many essential micronutrients. This can make us feel tired, fatigued, sleepy or achy.
Short of having a blood test, you may be able to guess which nutrients you are low in by completing a food diary, and entering the results in one of the free online analytical programs.
If you have been feeling a lack of energy then it’s best to reduce your intake of foods containing processed sugars, caffeine and alcohol, which are sometimes foods we think we should reach for when needing an energy boost.
SUGAR
Glucose is the body’s major fuel and is broken down from carbohydrates (a combination of sugar molecules), in the foods we eat. Simple sugars such as sucrose (table sugar) and juice (fructose) are composed of only one or two sugar molecules and are converted to blood glucose faster than more complex carbohydrates like wholegrains and vegetables.
This means that we get big boost of energy from simple sugars that doesn’t last very long, which may then leave us even more fatigued as our body has to create a lot of insulin to mop up the sugar in the blood.
So next time you think that a 3pm chocolate bar is going to give you the energy boost you need, think again and maybe reach for a snack made up of complex carbohydrates like some wholegrain crackers with homemade dip or one of the sweet treats from the Challenge recipe hub.
You can also get your FREE guide to sugar and learn the fact from fiction on it here
CAFFEINE
When we consume caffeine, this stimulates our adrenal glands so they release adrenalin, the hormone our body uses in a “fight or flight” situation. This in turn increases our breathing and heart rate, increases blood flowing to our muscles, and dilates our pupils. This adrenalin release is designed to happen only in some cases when we have severe physical stress.
If, however, we consume excessive quantities of caffeine, we encourage an adrenal response which is sustained and exhausts the glands. This means that the glands can no longer produce the small quantities of adrenalin we need to maintain concentration and focus, leading to physical fatigue.
Therefore, it is best to stick to a maximum of 2 single shot coffees per day. One coffee in the morning and if needed, a second coffee before 3pm to minimise any of these side effects.
Elisha Danine, Nutritionist