Want More Energy?

Avoid Sugar!

Feeling a bit sluggish? Anxious? Depressed? Before you reach for that candy bar or sweet roll as “comfort food,” you’d better read this!

While sugar may give you the quick “jolt” of energy you need and make you feel better initially, it’s followed by an equally quick “letdown.” Eating sugar causes erratic swings in your blood sugar levels which affect your moods and your energy levels. Many people experience continuous rapid fluctuations as they eat even more sugar to “bounce back” from the lows!

The holidays offer prime opportunities for increased sugar consumption. So… before eating another piece of chocolate, another cookie, or another piece of cake… consider these alternatives that give you energy and boost your mood – especially important during this time of the year.

• Drink lots of water (1/2 your body weight in ounces/milliliters per day) to avoid dehydration and combat fatigue.

• Eat foods that are rich in Omega-3 fats (e.g., salmon, walnuts and canola oil) that boost your mood naturally!

• Consider eating a banana or drinking a banana smoothie made with a banana, ice and skim milk. Bananas and green, leafy vegetables help to release more dopamine in the brain, a chemical that has “feel good” effects on mood.

• Try to eat 4-5 meals per day to keep blood sugar levels steady and provide the energy you need to keep you going throughout the day.

• Drink a soothing cup of black tea to calm stress and help you relax.

• Increase the amount of protein in your diet to help you stay alert. Try a grilled chicken sandwich or some black bean soup for lunch to supply the energy to stay focused through the usually “sluggish” afternoon hours.

• Eat an apple or another type of fruit that contains natural sugar, is easily digested, and provides vital nutrition to keep your engine running!

• Don’t skip breakfast. You’ve heard it many times and it’s true – breakfast really is the most important meal of the day. It gives you the fuel you need to get going after the long period of fasting while you’re asleep.

• Eat whole grains found in bread, brown rice, and sugar-free cereals. Whole grains are loaded with essential amino acids that the body isn’t able to produce on its own. Amino acids are vital to the brain because they produce neurotransmitters, which are necessary for proper nervous system function. Whole grains also digest slowly, keeping blood sugar and energy levels balanced throughout the day.*

The Suddenly Slim! 10 Day Cleansing & Weight Loss Program can also help correct body chemistry imbalances while reigniting and resetting the body to burn fat instead of storing it. The Suddenly Slim Cleansing & Weight Loss Program gives a true metabolic reset, which will aid in keeping the weight off. This is a program that focuses on cleansing the body and can be used by all, even if you don’t need to lose weight. We have had success helping hundreds of people lose weight with this program, even those with diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, fybromyalgia, and other health conditions.

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*Healthy news and information from Dr. Ellan Duke. Published monthly by River Hills Chiropractic and Wellness Center.