List of High Energy Foods to Buy
The human body uses food like a car uses gasoline; food is its fuel. Just like better grades of gasoline yield superior performance from a car, certain foods do the same for your body. If you feel sluggish or just want to boost your energy levels, you need to know what foods provide energy so you can fill your refrigerator and pantry with them. Does this Spark an idea?
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Tea
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Tea comes in many different varieties and each variety has a different amount of caffeine in it. If you are looking for the most bang for your buck, black has about 50mg of caffeine in an 8 oz. serving, while white tea has a mere 20mg for the same size serving.
Coffee
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Coffee can also offer a quick energy boost. Coffee contains a large amount of caffeine. Depending on the brand of coffee and how it is brewed an 8 oz. cup may contain anywhere from 65 to 175 mg of caffeine. Coffee is also rich in antioxidants, which may also contribute to an increase in your energy levels.
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Fruit
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Fruit is a good choice if you are looking for a healthy boost of energy. The vitamins, minerals, and ready-to-use sugars in fruit are ideal for naturally powering your body. The best fruits for accomplishing this would include bananas, kiwis, apricots and cantaloupes. Start your morning off with fruit and it will give you the fuel you need to start your day. Consume a piece of fruit an hour prior to your workout and it will give you an added boost of energy to get the task done.
Grains
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There are two grains that are particularly good for boosting energy: quinoa and oats. Quinoa is actually a seed that is classified as a super-grain. It is one of the rare plant-based foods that is a complete protein. It is high in fiber, calcium, potassium and magnesium. It is also a complex carbohydrate. Oats are also a good source of carbohydrates. They are high in fiber and B-vitamins. Rolled oats are also a low glycemic food so they boost your energy without raising your blood sugar.
Omega-3 Foods
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Omega-3 fatty acids have a number of health benefits associated with them, including the ability to boost energy levels. Cold water fatty fish like salmon, herring and mackerel are excellent sources of omega-3. These fish also have energy essential nutrients like B-vitamins, vitamin D, protein, magnesium and potassium. Some eggs also contain omega-3. Eggs are also rich in energy nutrients such as vitamin D, B-vitamins, protein and choline. Seeds like flax, chia and hemp are also good sources of omega-3. These seeds also contain fiber and antioxidants, which also help increase energy levels.
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References
- Photo Credit tea image by Horticulture from Fotolia.com
