Foods That Give You Energy

Many of us find we need more energy throughout the day.  We can actually supply our bodies with more energy by eating foods that will boost our energy levels.  While a candy bar may give you an instant energy boost the sugar is going to be used up quickly, causing us to feel even more tired in a little while.  It's best to keep our bodies at an even sugar level and we can do that by eating foods that give us the best and longest lasting energy levels like the ones below.

Whole Grains
Whole grain cereals such as cornflakes, oatmeal, shredded wheat and puffed rice not only provide quick energy but also are digested slowly, allowing blood sugar levels to remain stable.  Add some skim milk and fruit and you help produce a slow, steady release of glucose into the bloodstream, which will fuel your brain and muscles throughout the day.  Be sure to stick to cereals that are low in sugar, less than 10g per serving.  Sugars are simple carbohydrates, which tend to burn quickly and cause our energy levels to crash later. 

Lean Proteins
Proteins such as eggs, yogurt and peanut butter give you long lasting energy and make you feel full.  They take longer for the body to digest and offer good sources of vitamins and minerals. 

Fruits
A piece of fruit is a great source of quick energy.  It gives you a fast burst of energy but because the sugars in fruits are more complex they don't give you the later crash that junk food sugar laden foods do.  Plus, fruits provide a great source of vitamins and are high in fiber.  The best fruits to try are watermelon, bananas, dates, mangoes, papaya and pineapple, but all fruits are good.

Vegetables
Many vegetables provide us with the complex carbohydrates that will give us long-lasting energy.  Potatoes and carrots offer this type of energy as do most vegetables.  Carrot sticks are an easy, portable snack that can help our bodies maintain its sugar level between larger meals.  Vegetables also give us a good supply of vitamins and minerals that help keep the body functioning well.

Water
Don't forget to drink your water.  The body needs plenty of water, which will keep it running efficiently.  Everyone should drink approximately 8 glasses of water each day.  This amount should be increased during warm weather or exercise.  Drinking small amounts of water all day is the best way to replace your body's fluids and ensure that you won't get dehydrated.