Tired Of Feeling Tired In The P.M.? Reach For These 8 Energizing Pick-Me-Ups

Afternoon slump, who?

Tfoso

Dec 4, 2022 - 21:01

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Tired Of Feeling Tired In The P.M.? Reach For These 8 Energizing Pick-Me-Ups

Functional Medicine Practitioner

By William Cole, IFMCP, DNM, D.C.

Functional Medicine Practitioner

Will Cole, IFMCP, DNM, D.C., is a leading functional medicine practitioner with a certification in natural medicine and a doctor of chiropractic degree.

Overhead of woman cooking and preparing healthy meal with fresh avocado, veggies, watermelon, blueberries, and other fruit in kitchen

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December 4, 2022

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If you're like most people, when that afternoon slump hits you, it hits hard and it hits fast. Our society runs on sugar, caffeine, and carbohydrates that might give us a quick burst of energy, but leave us crashing and in search of our next fix.

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Instead of succumbing to this blood sugar roller coaster, why not use food to your advantage? After years of consulting patients in my telehealth functional clinic, I’ve seen firsthand how you can balance your blood sugar and achieve long-term, sustainable energy by adding more proven superfoods to your diet.

While so many ingredients can fall into the "sustained energy" category, the following eight are the ones I reach for when I need to beat the afternoon slump. Each of them is low in sugar and high in nutrients that work together to support healthy inflammation levels, blood sugar balance, and a strong immune system.

When all systems of your body are working optimally, you’ll feel better and have the energy to live the life you deserve. So without further ado, these are my top 8 foods for restoring your energy.

In my book Ketotarian, I talk a lot about the importance of using fat, instead of carbs and sugar, for fuel. Unlike eating sugar which leads to an eventual crash, eating fat is like adding a log to a fire—it's slow-burning and long-lasting.

Avocados are one of my favorite sources of healthy fats that also contain protein and fiber to sustain your energy levels even more throughout the day. These are also a versatile choice for breakfast or lunch to mitigate the need for snacking between meals. And after all, who doesn’t love a good avo toast or guacamole?

Bonus tip: Sprinkle on some Himalayan pink sea salt

Magnesium and sodium are both essential for our bodies to function optimally. Deficiencies can lead to symptoms of weakness and extreme fatigue. That’s where Himalayan pink sea salt comes in. Unlike iodized, processed table salt, sea salt is rich in natural electrolytes. If you feel yourself dragging, start adding more salt to each meal—during and after cooking.

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Sometimes you just need something sweet. Instead of reaching for that sugary cookie or snack, opt for low-glycemic berries that are filled with beneficial antioxidants that won’t leave you crashing later.

Turmeric or golden milk

Bonus tip: Add a dash of cinnamon

Cinnamon is another spice that has been shown to help balance blood sugar when eaten regularly, even in small amounts, and its flavor pairs wonderfully with earthy turmeric.

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Ever heard of methylation? Let me explain why it’s so important: This biochemical process happens close to 1 billion times every second and controls everything from your inflammation levels, neurotransmitter production, and energy levels with studies showing that poor methylation is associated with fatigue 6.

Methylation is fueled by key B vitamins that are abundant in sulfuric vegetables like brussels sprouts and broccoli. Add these into your daily vegetable rotation for more energized methylation pathways.

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We know that healthy fats are a great source of long-term, sustainable energy. However, if you do more physical activity or just feel like your body needs more carbohydrates, sweet potatoes are a super-energizing option too. Sweet potatoes also contain fiber that can help slow the body’s absorption of carbohydrates to alleviate an extreme blood sugar spike.

Whether you eat a mostly plant-based diet or just want a quick and easy snack, seeds like pumpkin, flax, chia, and hemp are the perfect choice. Filled with fatty acids and fiber that will fill you up and boost your energy without the dreaded blood sugar crash, seeds can be incorporated into smoothies, added to salads, or enjoyed by the handful.

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You may be thinking, “Of course green tea will give me energy….it has caffeine!”. But there’s more to green tea’s energy-boosting benefits than meets the eye. Green tea also contains powerful antioxidants like EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate) that have been shown to reduce the inflammation 7 that can play a role in stress and chronic fatigue.

Plus, unlike coffee, green tea also contains L-theanine, which slows the absorption of caffeine in your brain to provide a steadier energy boost without the jitters.

The takeaway.

So many of us struggle with low energy on a daily basis that it’s easy to write it off as “normal.” But I always say that just because something is common doesn’t make it normal. It is possible to restore your energy levels, and the first step can be tweaking what you eat. By fueling your body with nutrient-dense, energy-boosting foods like those on this list, you’ll be powering through your days in no time.