food
By Mallory Arnold
Energetic Eats
Energy levels receding? It may be what you’re eating
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Mushroom-based coffee is a blend of powdered mushrooms and ground coffee applauded for its herbal boosts in productivity, energy and focus. It contains half the caffeine than regular coffee, which can ward off potential negative effects such as disrupted sleep cycles and anxiety. 40
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t’s no secret that nutrition dictates how The average American adult we feel on a daily basis. You are what consumes about 22 teaspoons you eat, after all, right? However, many of sugar a day. To put that into people aren’t aware just how much cerperspective, one 12-ounce can tain foods can affect energy levels. of soda generally contains 10 New Albany’s Health and Fitness teaspoons of sugar. Center registered dietitian Molly Linek knows a whole lot about choosing foods mild pick-me-ups followed by an energy that will boost energy levels. drop which creates more cravings.” “Whole foods!” Linek says. “Whole If this vicious cycle sounds familiar, foods provide a longer lasting supply you may also recognize the symptoms of energy to the body and keep energy that come with it: headaches, fatigue and highs and lows away.” weight gain. When grabbing a mid-day snack, she While whole foods can boost your recommends something with protein, fiber vitality, processed foods do the opposite. and fat, such as nuts. She also stresses Watch out for the usual suspects such the importance of drinking water through- New Albany’s Health and Fitness Center registered dietitian Molly Linek as soda, chips and sugary cereals. out the day, as even slight dehydration “Plus,” Linek says, “ultra-processed can cause energy levels to plummet. One bad habit people tend to fall into is using sugar as foods, by design, encourage overeating, which will ultimately a means of getting through a particularly dragging day. Linek slow you down.” When most people require a pick-me-up, they reach for says that sugar does not mean energy. “Sugar may offer a slight surge in energy, but that quickly coffee. This, Linek says, isn’t always a bad thing. The Food and goes away with a rebound lull of low energy,” she says. “This Drug Administration recommends a maximum intake of 400 miltypically creates a sugar cycle – cravings for simple carbs and ligrams of caffeine a day, or two to three cups of coffee.
