Six Superfoods To Boost Your Energy & Feel Good

It may not be the heat that has you feeling wilted. If you find yourself craving your bed mid-afternoon, you’re not alone. You may be tired for many reasons, but It might be time to consider what you’ve been eating. You might think your daily coffee might do the trick, but we suggest you skip it. Coffee may give you the jolt you need, but the right foods will fuel your body like the energizer bunny. 

Superfoods is the answer. The term “superfood” is a fairly new term referring to foods that offer maximum nutritional benefits for minimal calories. They are packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. While there are many superfoods, we did some research and picked six go-to-superfoods we know will give you the recharge you need. Check out this week’s  #thegoodblog and also learn a few ways to prepare it. 

1.Cinnamon

A unique superfood to boost your energy levels would be cinnamon! Cinnamon not only tastes amazing when paired correctly, but it also works to keep your blood sugar level stable which means stabilizing your energy levels too. In fact, studies have shown that just the smell of cinnamon oil boosts energy, focus, and alertness in people. A few ways that cinnamon can be used in your daily meals would be by adding just a dash of cinnamon to your oatmeal (another great energy-boosting food!), coffee, or even making some cinnamon french toast for breakfast to kick start your day!

2. Spinach 

Popeye the sailorman’s favorite vegetable and it should be yours too! Spinach has a ton of nutrients to boost your energy for the day and is extremely versatile when it comes to cooking/preparing it. For all my iron-deficiency girlies, spinach has got your back by providing a vegetarian source of iron that helps red blood cells bring oxygen to different areas of your body which is needed for energy production. Other benefits also include keeping your eyes healthy, lower the chances of heart diseases, strengthening your immune system and preventing osteoporosis. Some common ways to cook/prepare spinach are spinach soup with tofu, baby spinach salad with chicken, or my personal favorite, a greek yogurt spinach dip with baked pita on the side.

3. Oatmeal

There’s a reason why oatmeal is highly encouraged for breakfast. Very similar to whole grain, oatmeal is a fiber-rich source of carbs that is slowly absorbed by the body and gives you energy throughout your day. Not only that, but it helps you feel full longer, which prevents the good old “snacking when you’re peckish” habit. Oatmeal also contains vitamins such as niacin, thiamin and folate that all help you metabolize energy. Some easy ways to prepare oatmeal would be simply cooking it the old fashion way by adding some oatmeal, milk and water into a pot and cooking it until the oatmeals are soft. Another way would be to make overnight oats (specifically rolled oats), soaking it with some soy milk and layering some yogurt and oats over it. 

4. Sweet Potato

Sweet Potato is another superfood of all vegetables. Sweet potatoes are a great source of iron, magnesium and vitamin C, all of them needed to produce energy for your body. Additionally, it also has healthy fibers and balances your blood sugar level, which will boost your energy level even more. Sweet potatoes can be cooked in many ways as a substitute for actual potatoes, plus they taste yummier (in my opinion). For example, mashed sweet potato, sweet potato fries, baked sweet potato and even sweet potato desserts! Considering how easy it is to cook them, sweet potatoes are amazing for quick and healthy meal preps. 

5. Avocados

Avocadoes are extremely unique fruits. Considering how they look and how creamy they are, unlike other fruits, it's no wonder many people love avocadoes. Avocados are extremely beneficial to your body by containing high levels of ‘good fats,’ fiber and vitamin B that all assist in energy production. 80% of the carbs in avocados are also fiber which again helps you fuel your energy levels. You would also find many pregnant women eating avocados to get their vitamin B which allows for proper brain function and healthy pregnancies. The easiest way to incorporate avocadoes into your meal would be by slicing or mashing the avocado onto a piece of toast. If you’re craving some creamy pasta, try blending the avocado into a puree along with some spices and using that as a pasta sauce.

6. Green Tea

If you really have to have a cup of something to start your morning, sub in your coffee for some green tea. Although it doesn’t contain much caffeine, green tea can help you feel much more alert and have more energy. Due to an amino acid called L-theanine, your body absorbs the caffeine in the tea much slower means longer-lasting energy boosts for you! If you also suffer from coffee jitters, green tea prevents that while giving you that energy boost at the same time. An easy way to incorporate this into your daily diet is to just have a nice cup of matcha latte in the morning.

Being aware of what you put in your body is important. Don’t eat to fill your tummy up; eat what your body needs to function and move every day. Listen to your body, and understand that carbs and fiber are essential in fueling your body. Even if it’s for weight loss reasons, you will still need carbs to give you that energy to burn fats.

With all that energy, you can finally step out of your house and do so many fun activities that will help keep up a healthy lifestyle such as hiking, yoga or pilates! Shop on The Good Tee today for some comfortable activewear today!