Eat for extra ENERGY!

It’s easy to feel a bit sluggish and unmotivated when we are spending all our time at home, so try these foods to help perk you up, says Lizzy Dening

‘A good diet should provide all you need to keep your energy levels high’

Even if we’re not as active as normal, it’s important to make sure we’re getting the right nutrients, eating on a regular basis and not missing meals. Even if your diet is normally well-balanced, a sudden energy slump could be highlighting an absence of a particular food group. So what foods are will add a spring to our step and lift our mood?

A natural boost

How much difference can diet actually make to your energy levels? A lot, according to experts. Research has proven a direct connection between gut health (helpful bacteria in your gut microbiome) and your ability to gain energy from food.

“Because we are all biochemically different there is no one size fits all when it comes to diet,” says Nutrition and Lifestyle Practitioner Catherine Faraday. “At different times of our life we may all experience imbalances and potential nutrient deficiencies.”

Fruit and veg is one food group where we can safely say the more the merrier – it should make up around a third of your diet.

“Fresh or frozen veg is a great start to help feed your gut, support your microbiome and provide the ideal environment for beneficial gut bacteria to flourish.”

Don’t feel guilty

If you do find yourself reaching for comfort food, don’t give yourself a hard time. “If you feel like having a biscuit or a piece of cake, have it and don’t feel guilty” says personal trainer and holistic health coach Jane Anderson. “Feeling guilty is what drives you into a cycle of feeling bad and thinking you should deny yourself certain foods. If you give yourself what you want when you want it, you’re less likely to binge afterwards.”

Probiotic power

Introducing probiotic foods diversifies the bacteria in your microbiome, helping it wring more nutrients out of everything you eat. “The gut will flourish with a diverse diet rich in varied veg and naturally fermented foods, such as organic raw sauerkraut, kimchi and natural kefir (a special type of yogurt),” says Catherine. But if you’re having difficulty finding a particular ingredient, there could actually be dietary benefits to these shopping hurdles. “The Covid-19 challenges we’re experiencing may well be the opportunity we need to get back to having some balance in our lives and avoiding processed foods that potentially are in short supply, but also bad for our health!”

Visit Catherine’s website at www.nutsaboutnutrition.co.uk