Energy shortage is often the problem most people who are busy juggling careers, a relationship, and a workout plan complain about. Keeping all these things in the air takes energy – a ton of energy and often people turn to candy bars and double lattes to charge you up, consider these organic healthy food products to keep you at your peak performance.
With that in mind, read on for a roster of organic healthy foods that are guaranteed to charge your batteries and stave off the dreaded afternoon and early evening head-nods.
Organic Healthy Food #1: Oatmeal
Oatmeals are low on the glycemic index because this healthy food is rich in fiber which means the body gets a steady stream of energy as carbohydrates gradually flow into your bloodstream. Oats also contain the energizing and stress lowering antioxidant vitamin B which helps transform carbs into usable energy.
Organic Healthy Food #2: Coffee
Coffee is a popular healthy food drink known for its energy boosting benefit. Caffeine is what makes coffee the morning cup of ambition that it is; it’s caffeine that blocks a chemical called adenosine that interferes with energy boosting neurotransmitters.
Organic Healthy Food #3: Lentils
This organic healthy food provides both carbohydrates and protein, making them a great addition to any meal. Lentils is also a healthy food source of fiber which translates to a slow release of glucose as well as antioxidants vitamin B, iron, magnesium, potassium, zinc, calcium and copper. These healthy foods are also low in fat and calories to boot. Some other good organic healthy food bean choices include navy beans, chickpeas and kidney beans.
Organic Healthy Food #4: Water
Let’s not forget that water, though not really a healthy food per se, keeps the body hydrated to generate energy. Water makes it possible for your system to digest, absorb and transport nutrients. It also helps regulate body temperature. When you’re dehydrated, your cells receive nutrients for energy less efficiently, and your body can’t properly expend heat through sweating. Both conditions lead to fatigue. Aim to drink eight to 10 eight-ounce glasses of water a day. Other sources of healthy food drinks include flavored waters such as Propel, sports drinks like Gatorade, herbal teas, and unsweetened (check the label) whole-fruit juices.
Organic Healthy Food #5: Bananas
The sugar in bananas is an easily digested form of carbohydrate. This organic healthy food product provides a lot of potassium, an electrolyte that helps maintain normal nerve and muscle function. Other organic fruits such as apples, grapes, peaches and pineapples also make great energizing health food snacks.
Organic Healthy Food #6: Sardines
Water-packed sardines contain an amino acid called tyrosine that, when digested, helps to manufacture the brain chemicals norepinephrine and dopamine. These “uppers” bring your brain to full attention, improving your mental function. Other lean protein healthy foods contain tyrosine as well, including lean beef, chicken, turkey, pork tenderloin, shellfish and eggs.
Organic Healthy Food #7: Chocolate
Chocolate is more than just a pick me up food, this healthy food can elevate your energy levels by way of certain bioactive compounds such as tyramine and phenylethylamine. This healthy food has also been claimed to improve anemia, awaken the appetite, aid in digestion, improve longevity, and increase sexual appetite. Whenever possible opt for dark chocolate since it has the fewest calories and the most antioxidants.
Organic Healthy Food #8: Steak
Iron is a component of the hemoglobin in red blood cells and is found in the myoglobin in muscles and other tissues. When iron levels are inadequate, the cells in the body slowly suffocate from lack of oxygen and burn carbohydrates inefficiently. Consequently, you feel sluggish, can’t concentrate, and are exhausted after minimal effort. As red meat is the most readily absorbed healthy food form of iron, treat yourself to a steak once a week to maintain healthy iron stores.
Organic Healthy Food #9: Almonds
Monounsaturated fats from healthy foods such as almonds provide essential fatty acids, known as omega-3s and omega-6s, that produce an alert mental state. Other healthy food fats to include in your diet are avocados, seeds, nuts, olive oil, fish oil and canola oil.
Organic Healthy Food #10: Yogurt
Research suggests that magnesium-rich healthy foods such as yogurt can provide an energy boost. Magnesium activates enzymes that are important for protein and carbohydrate metabolism and helps in the release of energy by transferring the key phosphate molecule to adenosine triphosphate, the explosive energy source you use when you lift weights. Other low-fat dairy healthy foods to make room for are low-fat cheese, skim milk, kefir and low-fat cottage cheese.
Dr. McDougall’s Right Foods Vegan Lentil Couscous Soup, Light Sodium, 2.1-Ounce Cups (Pack of 6) | |
Ghirardelli Chocolate Squares Dark Chocolate 60% Cacao, 5.25-Ounce Packages (Pack of 6) |