Now that lockdown is coming to an end, it’s time to start properly taking care of your body.
With everything opening up again, people will be venturing outdoors once more, maybe hitting the gyms that are opening up everywhere, maybe wandering around parks, and generally experiencing the world a bit more.
Your energy levels are going to need to match this newfound level of activity. Comfort eating for the best part of a year and sitting on the couch have undoubtedly left you feeling a little on the sluggish side.
Here’s a list of foods and products that can give you a bit of a zing in your step and boost your energy levels as you reemerge into the world post-Covid!
Foods and Products can help you feel Reenergized
Water
Getting started with the humble H2o, and perhaps the most crucial item on this list.
Water is vital for every cell in the body to function properly. While people might think of dehydration as something that only happens during extreme conditions, like being trapped in the desert, a morning without water can leave you dehydrated.
Keeping your energy levels high can be as simple as having a bottle of water with you at all times and staying properly hydrated. With the human body consisting of about 75% water, it should be obvious how important it is to drink enough!
Fruits
Fruits are a pretty simple way of keeping your energy levels up. They’re a source of natural sugars, and sugars are a source of energy for the body, and they’re packed with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.
Some are better than others for delivering an energy boost. For example;
Bananas
These are one of the best foods for a quick boost of energy. They’re highly portable, and while they’re full of natural sugar, they’re also full of fibre, which means that sugar will be released slowly into the body.
They’re also full of nutrients, like potassium, which helps brain cells communicate with each other and the rest of the body.
Oranges
Packed full of vitamin C and with a nice, hearty and tart taste, oranges are a great way to boost your mood. There have also been a few studies that show that young adult males with higher levels of vitamin C are less likely to feel confusion, anger or depression(1).
Darker Berries
Like other fruits, darker berries ( e.g. blueberries)are great for giving you a hit of sweetness when that’s what you’re craving, but unlike the processed sugars you’d find in sweets and chocolates, darker berries are full of vitamins and antioxidants too.
In fact, darker berries tend to be higher in antioxidants than their lighter counterparts, and antioxidants are good for helping to reduce fatigue and inflammation in the body. They also tend to contain less sugar while still satisfying a sweet tooth.
Avocados
Would a list like this even be complete if it didn’t feature our friend the avocado? Much maligned as food only smashed up on toast by annoying hipsters, avocados have much to recommend them.
They’re full of nutrients, proteins and fibre, and all of these can help you sustain your energy levels throughout the day.
Avocados are also full of good fats, which the body also needs to maintain energy levels.
Read: Reasons to Wear a Mask in Public
Coffee
A perennial favourite for people who need a quick pick-me-up, coffee has made its way into our lives and has become as ubiquitous as the many coffee chains that make it for us.
The caffeine in coffee is a recognised energy booster and can help the body and the brain feel alert.
Coffee is also full of antioxidants known as polyphenols, and as we’ve discussed elsewhere, antioxidants are good for helping the body to function properly.
The only word of caution with coffee is, of course, that caffeine is a stimulant, and it’s not wise to go overboard. Sticking to 400mg, or around 4 cups of brewed coffee, should be fine to help maintain energy levels throughout the day(2).
Green Tea
Green tea also contains caffeine, but not in as high a concentration as coffee does, and is also full of antioxidants. It’s long been consumed in Asia as part of a healthy lifestyle.
If the sledgehammer-like hit of coffee in the morning sounds a little much to you, maybe green tea could provide you with a gentler energy boost.
