Many people associate food with pleasure, but the most important function is to fill us with energy and the nutrients that our body needs to function every day. For this reason, the most vital aspect of any healthy diet, whether it is to lose weight or not, is consuming foods that are rich in calories and nutritious. In this way, we will not need to overeat to feel satiated and ready to face the day.
Our bodies need food to be able to perform at 100% of their capacities. If you feel very tired or feel like you don't have enough energy to exercise, study or work, you may need to incorporate ingredients into your diet that give you an immediate energy boost.
What foods give energy?
How do you know which foods give energy? All foods, to a greater or lesser extent, provide us with energy to keep all metabolic processes active and to strengthen the body's systems. However, many of them contain empty calories that lack many of the nutrients necessary for the body, so it is important to maintain a diet as balanced as it is varied.
In general, the foods that are responsible for giving us more energy have proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals vital for the proper functioning of the blood, bones and muscles, such as iron and potassium.
In order for the effects of these foods to be maximized, it is also necessary to reduce the consumption of other foods that impair vitality and defenses, such as sugar, alcohol or caffeine.
Banana
Bananas provide a large amount of potassium, a mineral that helps balance the body's water and strengthen muscles. In addition, potassium is essential to meet your vital needs, giving you all the energy the body requires throughout the day. It is one of the best anti-fatigue foods, as exhaustion is often linked to low potassium levels.
Therefore, if you are looking to incorporate energy-giving foods to train, one piece of banana a day will contribute to maintaining a healthy life and replenishing the glycogen lost during physical exercise.
Nuts
There are plenty of energy foods, but if you're looking for a truly natural snack, nuts are tiny energy capsules with a high nutrient content. Nuts provide:
Fatty acids important to the body.
Featured source of protein.
Satiating and antioxidant power.
Despite being a product with a high caloric content, it is one of the foods that give immediate energy. Among the multitude of nuts, the consumption of walnuts, cashews, almonds and pistachios is recommended because they contain vitamin E, potassium, iron and Omega-3.
Pipes and seeds
Flax seeds (a vegetable used to obtain oil and flour) and sunflower seeds are rich in Omega 6 and Omega 9. In addition, they contain nutrients that provide energy to the body such as vitamin B, folic acid and iron.
Taking a handful of these pipes and seeds, you will feel less fatigued and you will be consuming some of the best foods that give energy and vitality to the body.
Eggs
One of the foods with more protein is the egg. Consuming one will give you 30% of the amount you need per day of this macronutrient, which is responsible for transporting nutrients through the blood vessels and for the proper functioning of the muscles.
Therefore, it is recommended that you eat eggs due to the enormous versatility it offers in the kitchen (omelets, scrambled eggs or whites) and its great impact on physical recovery after playing sports.
Oats
This food is rich in complex carbohydrates and contains phosphorus, calcium, iron, and lecithin. Therefore, oats are slow-digesting, which helps provide more energy throughout the day.
In addition, its fiber content gives it great satiating power that helps you eat less and lose weight. It also helps lower cholesterol and balance glucose levels in the body. These last two properties are essential to maintain the health of the brain and nervous system, so consuming oats improves concentration and is one of the best energy-giving foods to study.
Spinach
Spinach are highly recommended vegetables in sports diets. Containing high levels of potassium, iron and magnesium, it is one of the energy-giving foods for running and exercising. They are also antioxidants and provide vitamin K and B, facilitating digestion and optimal muscle performance.
Spinach is ideal for losing weight, since it contains very few calories, one more reason for you to introduce it into your diet.
Garlic
Inulin, a satiating fiber that facilitates iron absorption, is found in garlic. That is why this food is important in a diet to prevent fatigue and anemia. In addition, it helps improve blood circulation and reduce cholesterol levels.
It is recommended that you eat raw garlic so that your body takes advantage of all its medicinal benefits. If you cook it, you will be losing much of its effectiveness.
Water
Water is essential to absorb all the nutrients that provide energy. Thus, it is essential that you drink enough to allow the meals that give you energy to work effectively in the body.
Figs
This food provides a large amount of healthy carbohydrates that are quickly converted into energy. It also contains folic acid and calcium, that is, basic nutrients for strengthening bones. Consuming several units will facilitate the recovery process of the muscles.
Pure chocolate
Chocolate consumption is excellent to maintain physical and mental energy, since it provides iron, magnesium, potassium and vitamins A, B1, B2 and E. In addition, it helps to improve mood and motivation, but it will only be healthy if you eat it pure. If it contains milk, you will be eating empty fats and a large part of its benefits will disappear.
Watercress
Another energy-giving food is watercress. It contains high values of vitamin C and minerals (especially iodine and iron). The consumption of this vegetable reduces fatigue if you take an approximate amount of 50 to 100 raw grams daily. You can introduce it in dishes as an accompaniment or in salads to take advantage of all the benefits of watercress.
Dates
This fruit provides a good dose of energy to the body: 10 units contain 275 calories. In addition, it is rich in vitamin B, trace elements and minerals, contributing to the cellular absorption of sugar and acting as an invigorating food.
Tips for more energy
There are foods that give energy by nature due to the nutrients present in their composition. Still, food is not the only way to increase your vitality. We give you the following tips so you can always perform at the best level:
Meditate: the frenetic rhythm of the daily routine prevents you from stopping and reflecting. Take time to think, organize and clarify your ideas. In this way, you will optimize the energy used for each task and reduce stress levels.
Sleep at night: It seems obvious, but it is more important than you think. Respecting the body's circadian rhythm helps to have more energy during the day. Taking advantage of the morning sunlight is also positive for the body.
Exercise regularly: making enormous efforts on time will exhaust you. Muscle recovery will be slower, so it is preferable to perform exercises that you can accomplish most of the week without causing enormous fatigue.
Maintain a good diet: do not skip any of the daily meals, do not trust your diet exclusively to supplements or believe in the power of 'superfoods'.
Do not abuse sweets: empty fats and the enormous amount of sugars they contain can be excessively harmful. It also prevents excessive consumption of caffeine, as it sometimes negatively influences energy levels.
Drink water to stay hydrated - otherwise concentration and physical performance decrease.