9 Foods That Give You Energy

Be it summer or winter, when the sun beats down on you, you start to lose energy. You lose a lot of fluids through profuse sweating. And, that is why you end up feeling lethargic. You have to drag yourself through your daily routine. But, there is a way you can actually shrug off the lethargy- with energy giving foods! Certain high energy foods can speed up your metabolism, and also give you an energy boost –

# Bananas

Bananas are sweet fruits that can act as the perfect energy food. Bananas are rich in potassium and fiber. They are stuffed with natural sugars such as glucose, fructose, and sucrose and as soon as they enter your body, they give you an energy boost. The energy released will sustain for hours. Moreover, bananas contain plenty of fibers, which improve gut health and accelerate metabolism. The faster your metabolism, the more energetic you feel.

# Yogurt

Dieticians and doctors emphasize the importance of consuming curd or yogurt. It has a cooling effect on the body. Yogurt is packed with magnesium, a mineral that instantly releases energy in the body, thus making it the ideal energy giving food.

If you work out in summers, as you should remember to consume curd as part of your post-workout diet. Not only will this energy giving food raise your energy levels but it will also help mend torn muscles.

# Coconut Water

Coconut water is a cooling drink that can supplement your daily water intake. It hydrates you, infuses you with energy and flushes out all the harmful waste from your body. It contains minerals that maintain the water balance in your body and help regulate body temperature.

Since coconut water is formed naturally inside the fruit, it has 94% water and very little fat. Whatever little fat it has is coconut fat. It is also very good for diabetics and helps reduce blood pressure. It is also the best thing to have after prolonged exercise especially during summers.

# Dry Fruits

Dry fruits comprise dehydrated fruits like dates, watermelons, raisins, cherries, and apricots. It does not contain any unhealthy refined sugar. So even diabetics can consume it without any fear. Dry fruits are filled with natural sugars. So even diabetics can consume it without any fear. Raisins have about 59%, dates have 65%, apricots have around 53%. Densely packed with potassium, and a wide range of vitamins, dry fruits ensure that your body remains at its peak all day long.

Figs make for great guilt-free snacking. They also help in preventing heart diseases. Prunes and raisins help to regulate acidity. Apricots impart give a glowing complexion and their juice can be used to treat sunburns.

# Nuts

The delightful trait of nuts is that they will not give you an instant energy surge. On the other hand, nut consumption will ensure a consistent release of small doses of energy throughout the day.

Munch on some peanuts, almonds or cashews every few hours to ensure that your energy levels do not dwindle.

Pistachios and almonds are known as neutral foods, neither hot nor cold and make for good energy giving food during summers.

# Chocolate

Chocolate contains sugar and caffeine, both of which lead to a hike in cortisol and adrenaline levels and lead to a surge of energy. Nibble into small pieces of chocolate twice or thrice a day to keep yourself going.

Chocolate has various antioxidant properties and can help lower risks of high blood pressure, cholesterol, and inflammation.

Summers can take a toll on your body as well as your mind. The above-mentioned list of energy giving foods not only perk you up but they also delight your palate and keep you energetic.

# Brown rice

Apart from being very nutritious, brown rice helps in providing a good amount of energy. Manganese helps enzymes in breaking down carbohydrates and proteins to generate energy. Brown rice is less processed than white rice and thus retains a lot of nutritional value.

# Eggs

Packed with proteins, eggs are both delicious and a great source of energy. Eggs contain leucine, an amino acid that helps in stimulating energy production in the body. Rich in Vitamin B, eggs help in the processes that involve breaking down food for energy.

# Sweet potatoes

Due to the complex carbohydrates and fiber content in sweet potatoes, our bodies digest them at a slower pace. As a result, we have a steady source of energy when we have sweet potatoes. Manganese in sweet potatoes also help in breaking down nutrients in the body to produce energy.