Eating Healthy for Energy

Since you are what you eat, a healthy energy diet is the best way to get the most out of life. It's easy and tempting to give in to urges to eat the wrong things, but good habits can be formed in as little as 21 days. So the good news is, within weeks, you can be on your way to feeling like a whole new you.

The body needs certain nutrients to stay healthy, which are generally categorized as carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. Getting these in the right combination is subject to much debate, mostly because what is healthy for one person can be unhealthy to another.

Learning to listen to your body is key to knowing what is best for you. And over time, your body's needs will change, so keep listening so it can tell you what you need. If you feel tired or groggy right after eating, it may be because what you ate is wrong for your body. If you feel a spike in energy for a while, but your energy level drops severely later on, you may have consumed too many simple carbohydrates.

While it may seem irrelevant to energy levels, water is very important for your body to deliver nutrients through the blood to all your cells. Dehydration can make you feel tired, so drink at least eight 8 ounce glasses of water a day. Some experts recommend that you figure out how much water to drink every day by taking your weight in pounds, dividing it by two, and consuming that much water in ounces per day. (For example, if you weigh 180 pounds, you would drink 90 ounces of water.)

Complex carbohydrates pack more energy than simple carbohydrates, like sugar and corn syrup. Whole grains are a great source of healthy carbohydrates, and the closer they are to their natural state, the better.

Good sources of complex carbohydrates include vegetables, whole grain breads and pastas, beans, high fiber breakfast cereals, sweet potatoes, yams, and brown rice. Complex carbohydrates make you feel full and provide essential vitamins, and this will give you more energy. Once you start eating less sugar and corn syrup and replace it with complex carbohydrates, you might be surprised to find that you crave healthier foods.

Protein is used by the body to build and repair tissues and cells. Amino acids are the building blocks of protein, and there are 9 amino acids which your body cannot produce on its own, called essential amino acids. Animal proteins, such as beef, pork, chicken, fish, milk, eggs and cheese contain all the essential amino acids. But many nuts, beans, legumes (like soy or peanuts), and vegetables also include amino acids. Some do not contain all 9 of the essential amino acids, but your body can store these until it has everything it needs to make protein.

Fat is also essential to a healthy energy diet, but most people eat too much fat. Healthier fats come from plant sources, like olive oil, coconut oil, and flax seed oil. Unsaturated fats are better for you than saturated fats. Once you start eating more healthy fats and crowding out the unhealthy fats, you will find that you don't miss the grogginess that accompanies eating to much fat.

Learning to eat healthier will help you get the most out of life. Getting in the habit of eating a healthy energy diet may take some getting used to, but habits are formed quickly, and in no time you will feel more energy and vitality.

Article Source: http://www.articlesneeded.com

Tips on eating for energy at: www.energy-nutrition.com.

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