If you get up every morning feeling sluggish, and even that cup of coffee doesn’t do much to “wake you up”, it’s probably because your body lacks the essential nutrients required to ensure that you’re always ready to seize the day. Though the recent trend among’st people is to take energy supplements that the market is flooded with, you must know that they come with many side effects like mood swings, palpitations, insomnia, and headaches. Therefore, the best way to increase your energy levels is to improve your dietary habits. Here are five natural foods that boost energy:

1. Almonds –When it comes to choosing the perfect snack, almonds should, undoubtedly, be your top choice. Packed with nutrients like magnesium and B vitamins, almonds work wonderfully towards boosting and maintaining energy levels. Magnesium plays an essential role in energy metabolism, and the lack of it can cause you to get tired very quickly. Though B vitamins don’t particularly increase energy levels, their deficiency can impact your cellular function and thus result in fatigue, mood swings and reduced concentration. To avoid piling on the pounds, keep your intake of almonds to a fistful.
2. Bananas – This delightful fruit has a reputation for being a natural foods digestive aid, but did you know that it also helps boost energy? Bananas are rich in potassium that keeps the bones healthy and strengthens muscles. Potassium is also responsible for the transmission of nerve signal and contraction of muscle that are both necessary during physical activity. Bananas also contain fiber that stimulates the removal of toxins from the body, the buildup of which can result in fatigue and low energy levels.
3. Beetroot – If you are a fitness freak, adding beetroot to your diet will do you wonders. A study published in the Journal of Applied Physiology conducted on men aged 19 – 38 cycling on exercise bikes reported that beetroot juice consumption can increase stamina. This is because the nitrates contained in beetroot juice help increase the levels of nitric oxide in the body, thereby impacting essential functions like blood flow, cell signaling and hormone levels. It, in turn, helps improve stamina. Beetroot also offers many health and beauty benefits like improved cardiovascular health, reduced cancer risk, reduced acne and prevention of dandruff, etc.
4. Lemonade – Dehydration is a common reason for people to feel fatigued. One of the best ways to keep yourself hydrated is to continue sipping on lemonade all day. Doing this will not only prevent dehydration, but it will also give your body an electrolyte boost needed for your cells to produce energy. To keep your drink healthy, sweeten it with honey instead of sugar.
5. Whole Grains – Did you know that carbohydrates provide almost 60% of your daily energy needs? Though carbs have a bad rep for making you fat, it’s the choice of carbs that make all the difference. Complex carbs prevent sudden blood sugar spikes and offer more sustained bouts of energy. It’s best to begin your day with natural foods whole grains like oats, cereal, quinoa and whole grain bread.

Apart from improving your diet with natural foods, make sure that you also catch up on at least 8 hours of sleep every day. Drink a lot of water and break down your meals into smaller portions. If despite making these lifestyle changes, the symptoms persist, Sehat can help you find highly experienced neurologists and psychiatrists in your city to assist you in identifying and treating the cause of your chronic fatigue.