Fatigue can be a normal part of life, but when being tired all the time starts interfering with your job, social activities, family life or hobbies it might be time to examine your lifestyle. If you feel you're getting enough sleep, but still feel tired you might be surprised to learn that some foods can have a negative impact on your energy level. Read on to find out what foods you might consider cutting out of your diet if you just can't seem to maintain your energy level or get enough rest.
These foods are made up of already small molecules of carbohydrates, which makes your body able to process them faster. When the refined carbohydrates are processed, presto! We have sugar! Once your body gets a quick hit of glucose your energy will rise, but then fall off in an hour or two. Before you know it you're riding the rollercoaster of unstable blood sugar. You might think that when you get tired the answer is to eat something sweet or sugary but in fact this will only make it worse and prolong the process. Stop this vicious cycle and you'll feel better in a few days. Here's a quick list of refined carbohydrates that you might be eating too much of.
- White breads
- Muffins, sweet bread or other baked goods
- Prepared and packaged foods
Wheat is a carbohydrate, sure, but it's not always refined. The truth is many people experience a glucose sensitivity that may impact their energy and cause mood swings. Eliminating all gluten from your diet for a few weeks might have surprising results on the energy front. Here are some common foods that contain gluten.
- Bread (white or whole wheat)
- Breaded products like chicken tenders
- Breakfast cereals
The Nightshade Family
The nightshade family of foods is a surprisingly wide-reaching family of fruits and vegetables that can cause sensitivities in many people. These sensitivities can be expressed in allergic reactions, skin conditions or extreme fatigue. The nightshade family contains these items.
- All types of peppers including bell and green peppers
Sure, this list contains a lot of delicious foods, but hey, maybe it's not the pasta that's making you tired at all. It might be due to the tomato sauce!
Milk and other dairy products contain a lot of nutritious elements, but the fact is if you're sensitive to the lactose in dairy it can cause extreme fatigue. If your body is sensitive to an element of a food like the lactose in dairy it can cause your body to expend immense amounts of energy trying to properly digest and process that food. This process leaves little energy left over for other necessary functions so you can end up feeling depleted and exhausted. Try staying away from all dairy or even just cheese for a few weeks and see if you notice a marked difference in your energy level.