Flowers, green grass, Spring sunshine bursting with Vitamin D. With all this surrounding us, sometimes it’s hard to focus on writing. And with the days getting longer and longer, I don’t know about you, but adjusting my internal time clock has been challenging. For help in revving up, I turned to my trusty stack of Woman’s World magazines to find some easy energy boosters for us all:
Eat your oatmeal: Besides being low-cal and fiber-rich, oatmeal is a great source of B6, which activates the feel-good hormone, serotonin. You can get an even bigger boost by adding nuts and berries. And here’s another trick I’ve learned: If you’re like me and enjoy having a morning smoothie for breakfast, try adding a quarter-cup of dry oatmeal to it for some slow-burning protein.
Snack on sunflower seeds: If you’re prone to midmorning or midafternoon slumps, you might be tempted to grab an energy bar or another snack that’s high in sugar. A better bet: munching on sunflower seeds. They’re rich in magnesium, which fights fatigue. Other magnesium-rich foods you can snack on for quick energy: pumpkin seeds, avocados, spinach, almonds, peanuts and cashews. Another slump-buster that works well: combining a protein and complex carb like whole-grain crackers and cheese or peanut butter. This combo can give you an energy boost that lasts for hours.
Catch up on C: One in three Americans suffer from low levels of vitamin C according to experts. Since this vitamin helps cells convert food into energy, a shortfall can lead to fatigue. Eating a serving of citrus or taking 500 mg. of C daily can boost your energy in just three weeks. Other sources of C: tomatoes, broccoli, peppers, and leafy vegetables.
Snag a snooze: There’s loads of evidence that taking a short nap in the afternoon can recharge your battery. One study found that astronauts who took a 40-minute nap improved their performance by almost 35% and their alertness by 100%. So if you work at home, you might try this easy and enjoyable energizer.
If you have any energy boosters that work for you, I’d love to share them. Write on!
