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4 Foods to Free Your Natural Energy

September 17, 2022 by Ivy Chan

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The reason why I don’t like to rely on stimulants for energy is this: They make you go through things your body otherwise wouldn’t allow you to. Think about how different life would be if we actually did listen to the body daily, instead of forcing it, manipulating it, and tricking it with stimulants.

The examples below don’t try to trick the body- they help you to release the energy you already have within you. They do this while nourishing you, taking care of you, helping you to lose weight if need be, feed you, nurture you. There are others- from fermented foods to cruciferous vegetables. I am listing only a handful of my favourite go-tos here.

chards

1. Dark Leafy Greens

Dark leafy greens have an important role in Ayurvedic cooking, and with good reason. They’re hydrating, nutrient-rich, and when prepared while fresh, they contain prana, or life-supporting energy. If you prefer to consume them raw, try to do this when Agni, the metabolic fire, is at its strongest- 10am-2 pm. If your digestion is not optimal, it might be too trying to consume them raw, so watch for signs of weak digestion, such as gas or increased Vata. You might also consider food combining, and eating the raw veggies separately. I usually advice my clients who would like to add raw veggies to their diet to start slow, eat whatever raw veggies they like, but in small quantities, as an afternoon snack. Dark leafy greens are especially helpful to my weight-loss clients, because they help to increase Glucagon-lie-Peptide-1 hormone that keeps blood sugar steady, and keep one more satisfied.

Feel free to look at my services, and contact me with questions here.

cashews

2. Nuts + Seeds

I LOVE nuts and seeds. They’re my go-to snacks in the afternoon. They are full of nutrients, and yes, fats and calories, BUT, they are also a prime example of how calorie in-calorie out is more complex than we think: Research shows that your body doesn’t absorb all of the calories, as a portion of fat stays trapped within the nut’s fibrous wall during digestion (see here, here, and here). In summary, they are super filling, satisfying, energy-producing, and yummy, but they promote weight maintenance/loss, rather than contributing to weight gain!

Still, if you are trying to lose weight, keep the number of nuts you eat to a maximum of approximately 25 pieces and seeds to one shot glass full. For some constitutions, but might be too “heating”, for some others, they are simply too hard to digest- in either case, stick to seeds. you might also consider soaking them to make them easier to digest.  

By adding in the nuts and or seeds, you are keeping your digestive system stimulated and working hard, which helps to keep your energy up. The protein and fat from the nuts and seeds also help to give you more sustaining energy, which will have you feeling more satisfied leading up to and going into dinner. However, try not to eat them late in night. They really might keep one awake!
various soups

3. Root Vegetables

I advise my weight-loss clients to eat most of their grains and/or root veggies at lunch so the body has all day to use up the energy from them! Root vegetables are great sources of complex carbohydrates, antioxidants, and other nutrients. They tend to be lower than grains in calories, have a lower glycemic index load, and they cause less digestive or inflammatory issues than many grains do. One of my favourite root veggies are parsnips: Pureed, air fried, roasted. Along with Vitamin C and potassium, parsnips provide folate, which is important for energy, metabolism, nervous system health, synthesis of DNA, and red blood cells formation.

4. Herbs

I LOVE my herb garden. I keep bragging about it on Instagram. One of the herbs I have in the garden is holy basil, also known as Tulsi. It calms the mind and spirit, and promotes longevity. Traditionally, it is used to improve energy and relieve fatigue, and provide relief from mild depression. Although not an “Ayurvedic” herb, schizandra is another one of my go-tos to improve energy and stamina in general, and relieve anxiety. Aside from these, ginseng, sage, guarana, bacopa monnieri, ashwagandha, even peppermint and rosemary, might all be helpful. One thing to keep in mind, however, is that every individual (and each context) is different. Please do seek professional advice before starting a new regimen with herbs.

Feel free to look at my services, and contact me with questions here.

 

 

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Read more:

Want to Quit Coffee? Try These Instead

5 Gut-friendly breakfast recipes: Ditch the sugar-coated cereal

 

 

 

 

Editor’s note: The information in this article is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition and before undertaking any diet, supplement, fitness, or other health programme.

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Filed Under: health and wellness, Lifestyle Tagged With: energy, health and wellness, healthy snacks

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Welcome! My name is Ivy. I am an academic by training and a foodie at heart, in a small but mighty body. Classical with a twist, married to the love of my life, a proud mum of two little lions, and one little human. We have recently moved to the gorgeous state of Washington. I am back to a 4-year school to study Ayurvedic nutrition and Traditional Chinese Medicine. When I have time from school and our two-year-old, I like to read, write, bake, and consume more Medjool dates and dried figs than anyone I know.

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I am an academic by training and a foodie at heart, in a small but mighty body. I am married to the love of my life, and a proud “furry-mum” of two little lions. Want to collaborate? Contact me→

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