20 Foods To Help Boost Your Energy Levels

You might think that what you eat only has an impact on your internal health, the tilting scale that can either make you skinny or fat. The truth is that food can do a lot to your body such as revving up your metabolism, boosting your mood, triggering feel-good endorphins, and even helping to increase your energy levels. The trick is to eating the right foods and then you can avoid that sluggish feeling that attacks at all times of day. Here are a few things that are good to nosh on so you can feel energetic all day long.

Leafy Greens

Spinach, romaine, arugula – when building a salad start with the darker kinds of leaves instead of things like iceberg lettuce. These dark leafy greens are rich with folate which not only helps increase energy but also helps stave off depression.

Water

Keeping yourself hydrated is one of the most important things you can do not just for your energy, but for your entire well-being. Drinking plenty of water throughout the day will keep your metabolism going and therefore your energy too.

Whole Grains

Atkins dieters would have you believe that anything containing a carb is bad news – but don’t listen to that. When you eat things like oatmeal and brown rice that contain complex carbohydrates, which are digested more slowly, it helps maintain blood sugar levels for longer, in turn fighting off that midday sluggish feeling.

Coconut

Coconut is a great energy booster because it contains triglycerides, which convert fat into energy. The best part is that you can reap the benefits in various forms from coconut oil, coconut water, coconut flakes, or even just regular fresh coconut.

Bananas

Bananas have always been touted for their vitamin B and potassium content, things that help slow digestions and keep blood sugar levels, and therefore your energy, up all day. If you don’t like eating them alone, try adding them to a smoothie or a bowl of cereal.

Chocolate

People like eating chocolate for a reason – aside from being delicious it is full of energizing, feel-good stimulants like caffeine and theobromine. To get these benefits, make sure you’re getting dark chocolate – the higher percentage of cacao the better.

Coffee

While caffeine is something you can easily get addicted to, the content of one or two cups of coffee in the morning is a great way to get your metabolism going first thing. If you love coffee, make sure you switch to decaf around midday so you can fall asleep when bedtime comes.

Yogurt

When your digestive system is in good working order, your energy improves automatically. Yogurt, especially of the Greek or Icelandic varieties, is full of good bacteria called Probiotics that greatly help with digestion.

Mixed Nuts

Whether you prefer cashews or walnuts, almonds or hazelnuts, just about any kind of nut is packed with powerful protein. They also contain magnesium which helps convert the sugar in your body into energy fuel.

Kale

Kale is considered to be a superfood for a reason. Its not only loaded with a laundry list of beneficial vitamins and minerals that help with keeping your energy up, its also a fantastic non-dairy source of calcium to benefit teeth and bones.

Lean Meat

Any kind of lean meat – whether its chicken, turkey, beef, or even pork – is a protein packed, low calorie energy booster. They contain tyrosine, an amino acid that triggers positive brain chemicals like dopamine which fight off depression and insomnia and help keep you alert.

Ginger

Ginger is a wonderful and versatile spice loaded with energy-boosting antioxidants. You can slice it, mince it, or grate it and add it to your cooking, steep it with your tea, or use it to brighten up a smoothie.

Beans

Navy beans, garbonzo beans, red beans, black beans, black eyed peas – they’re all good. Beans, beans, the magical fruit, the more you eat, the more… potential you’ll have to be energetic.

Melons

Melon, such as cantaloupe, watermelon, and honeydew, contain a great deal of vitamins and minerals vital to energy production. An added bonus is that they are almost entirely made of water, which helps keep you hydrated.

Citrus

Not only do citrus fruits help keep energy up, but they also contain loads of vitamin C which helps boost immunity. If you don’t like eating oranges and grapefruits, try adding slices of lemon and lime to your next glass of water.

Sesame Seeds

Sesame seeds are one of the oldest cooking additives in the world and are good for enhancing all sorts of dishes. The little seeds have incredible copper and manganese content which are essential to metabolic activity and therefore energy production.

Curry

Granted, spicy food isn’t something for everyone, but the classic Asian dish made with chillies, turmeric, cinnamon, and cumin has great health benefits. Not only does it help rev up the metabolism and promote good circulation, the high levels of antioxidants help regulate sugar levels and keep your energy going.

Tea

If you don’t like the taste of coffee and you find drinking regular water too boring, then tea should be right up your alley. It can keep you hydrated like water while delivering caffeine to help you stay awake and alert.

Wild Fish

Fish like mackerel, salmon, and albacore tuna are packed with omega-3 fatty acids that keep up heart health and circulation. It’s important that you eat wild only – farm raised fish are omega-3 deficient.

Quinoa

Despite being a type of grain, quinoa (pronounced KEEN-wah) is loaded with protein that will keep you feeling full and energized. The best part about it is that it works well as both a sweet and a savory dish.