FOODS THAT GIVE YOU MORE ENERGY

If you plan it right, what you eat can help keep you healthy and energized all day long. The key is to maintain balanced blood sugar levels and to eat meals made up of low glycemic index carbohydrates combined with protein and small amounts of healthy fats.

Steady energy feels great. To optimize your daily energy level, try adding some of these foods into your meal plan.

• Oatmeal. The complex carbs in oatmeal mean it’s a slow-burning source of energy. Oats also boost serotonin production which can help us manage stress and enhance learning and memory function. Caveat: sugar-packed packets of flavored instant oats are worth avoiding. Make your own instead and load them up with berries, bananas and a drizzle of maple or honey for a healthy treat of a breakfast.
• Bananas. One of the best foods for energy, whether frozen and blended into a smoothie, sliced onto oatmeal or eaten on the go. They’re full of complex carbohydrates, vitamin B6, potassium and even a little protein. 
• Yogurt. The carbs in yogurt are mainly in the form of simple sugars, such as lactose and galactose. When broken down, these sugars can provide ready-to-use energy. Greek yogurt is an especially good choice. Top with fresh berries and a drizzle of local honey or maple syrup.
• Sesame seeds. Toasted sesame seeds add a little crunch and flavor to salads, soups, stir fries and more. They’re chock full of magnesium, which helps convert sugar into energy, plus they’ve got a blood-sugar-stabilizing dose of healthy fat and fiber.
• Cinnamon. Cinnamon works to keep blood sugar levels stable, therefore it also helps to stabilize your energy levels. One teaspoon of cinnamon contains as many antioxidants as half a cup of blueberries, one of the most antioxidant-rich foods. Shake a little into your yogurt or add a dash to your coffee.
• Water. Dehydration is a certain cause of low energy and even brain fog. Feel a slump? A nice tall glass of cool water might just do the trick. 
• Beans. Whether you opt for pinto, Great Northern, red, black or Anasazi beans, or any of the hundreds of other varieties, they share a similar nutrient profile. They digest slowly, which stabilizes blood sugar. They also contain antioxidants, fiber, protein and carbs. Beans are great sources of folic acid, iron and magnesium, which help produce energy and deliver it to our cells.
• Lentils are tasty little legumes, rich in carbs and fiber. Just one cup of cooked lentils contains about 15 grams of fiber and 36 grams of carbs. Lentils are energy powerhouses, upping your energy levels by replenishing your stores of iron, folate, zinc and manganese. These nutrients help break nutrients down and help with cellular energy production.

The carbs in yogurt are mainly in the form of simple sugars, such as lactose and galactose. When broken down, these sugars can provide ready-to-use energy. Greek yogurt is an especially good choice. Top with fresh berries and a drizzle of local honey or maple syrup.
Sesame seeds. Toasted sesame seeds add a little crunch and flavor to salads, soups, stir fries and more. They’re chock full of magnesium, which helps convert sugar into energy, plus they’ve got a blood-sugar-stabilizing dose of healthy fat and fiber.
Cinnamon. Cinnamon works to keep blood sugar levels stable, therefore it also helps to stabilize your energy levels. One teaspoon of cinnamon contains as many antioxidants as half a cup of blueberries, one of the most antioxidant-rich foods. Shake a little into your yogurt or add a dash to your coffee.
Water. Dehydration is a certain cause of low energy and even brain fog. Feel a slump? A nice tall glass of cool water might just do the trick. 
Beans. Whether you opt for pinto, Great Northern, red, black or Anasazi beans, or any of the hundreds of other varieties, they share a similar nutrient profile. They digest slowly, which stabilizes blood sugar. They also contain antioxidants, fiber, protein and carbs. Beans are great sources of folic acid, iron and magnesium, which help produce energy and deliver it to our cells.
Lentils are tasty little legumes, rich in carbs and fiber. Just one cup of cooked lentils contains about 15 grams of fiber and 36 grams of carbs. Lentils are energy powerhouses, upping your energy levels by replenishing your stores of iron, folate, zinc and manganese. These nutrients help break nutrients down and help with cellular energy production.