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If you feel yourself dragging during the day, grab a thirst quencher. Believe it or not, a simple glass of water is one of the best pick-me-ups around. If you’re dehydrated, you can’t get nutrients from the foods you eat to the cells in your body, and you’re going to feel tired. If you’re used to an afternoon soft drink, try carbonated or flavored water instead.
Can’t wake up? Try starting your day with a smoothie. It’s an easy way to get those much need nutrients – and propel your day forward. If you want a great boost after exercising, try a soft taco. Especially if you’re worked with weights.
The taco will give you a combo of low-fat protein and complex carbs. This will help you get the most from your exercise routine and prevent an unnecessary post workout crash. Just be sure you work out at a high enough intensity to warrant a post workout meal. Push yourself to the point where you feel comfortably tired. But you shouldn’t feel pain.
Need something to keep you going until lunch? Eat a banana. Avoid sweets and chocolates, which provide a sugar surge but leave you feeling more tired than before. Fruit has water and fiber and not as many simple carbs as many people believe, so their sugars are absorbed slowly. Bananas are great because they’re packed with vitamins A,C and B6, potassium and dietary fiber, and are easy for the body to digest…plus they come in their own package.
Need to work through lunch? Go for yogurt & granola. You’ll get a great combo of dietary calcium (which aids in burning fat), and whole grains (may also help in weight control). If you need a good night’s sleep, try an oatmeal cookie before bed. Oats contain high levels of tryptophan (the same ingredient in turkey that makes you sleepy).
Want to work out longer? Sip some green tea. This may improve your exercise endurance by as much as 24% by stimulating fatty acids that the body then uses as an energy source. As an added bonus, research reveals that green tea may also be able to prevent skin cancer.
Aired 07-07-08 |
