How energetic we feel during the day depends on several factors like sleep quality, physical activity, stress levels, diet, etc. Talking about diet, there are several healthy practices you can follow to improve the energy you get from the food you eat. This doesn’t mean eating more food to get more energy. Instead, the key lies in keeping our glucose (the main type of sugar in the blood) stable. In a recent Instagram post, French biochemist Jesse Inchauspe explained, “Glucose is your body’s preferred source of energy. But, more glucose is not better. If you give your body too much glucose (if you eat too many carbs and sugars), you don’t get more energy. You get less energy from it.”
Experts say, “If you experience too many glucose spikes, your mitochondria are stressed. You feel constantly tired. This is hard to know intuitively because when we eat sugar, we feel a rush of dopamine (the pleasure molecule), which we mistake for energy. It is very important to keep your glucose stable to unleash new energy from within.”
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Harvard Health states that it is important to eat a balanced diet that includes a variety of unrefined carbohydrates, proteins and fats, as well as an emphasis on vegetables, whole grains and healthy oils.
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Apart from this, the expert also shared some diet tips that will help you feel “more energetic”:
1. Eat a delicious breakfast
Instead of sweet breakfasts like bread-jam or cereal, eat savory breakfasts like yogurt, eggs, nuts, beans and avocado.
2. Eat vegetables first
“Include a plate of vegetables at the beginning of your meal,” she writes. The fiber from the vegetables will prevent a sudden glucose spike from your main meal.
3. Vinegar Dressing on Your Starter Vegetables
Experts recommend, “Take a teaspoon of vinegar (any kind) in a glass of water before eating or pouring it on your vegetable starter.” Vinegar contains acetic acid which slows down the enzymes that convert food into glucose.
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4. Eat whole fruits
“Eat only whole fruits, never juice or dry fruits,” the expert said. When we juice fruits, the fibre content is lost and you may get a sudden spike in glucose levels.
5. Eat sweets after meals
Eat sugary foods at the end of a meal rather than eating them alone in the morning or as a snack. Eating sugar on an empty stomach can cause your glucose levels to rise too much.
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Disclaimer: This content including advice provides general information only. It is in no way a substitute for qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your doctor for more information. NDTV does not claim responsibility for this information.
