Proper Nutrition for a High Performance Body… Amp Up Your Energy :
One of the ways in which we deplete the amounts of water our bodies need for energy is through caffeine. Because caffeine is most often coupled with sugar, many people use it to gain energy when they are feeling low. However, for those of us looking to increase our energy, while caffeine is a quick fix in the moment, the lasting effects do more harm than good. Caffeine is a diuretic, dehydrating the body and taking with it important vitamins and minerals needed for cellular function. Large amounts of caffeine use can lead to loss of calcium and potassium which can cause muscle cramping and a delay in recovery after exercise. A bigger problem with caffeine is that it is addictive, so much so that it can cause withdrawal symptoms for those trying to cut it out of their diets. To ease yourself off of coffee and soda, try replacing them with less caffeinated drinks like green tea and by drinking more water. Once caffeine is out of your system, your energy will increase and you will start to feel better.
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Sugar is also a saboteur of energy. On average, Americans consume 150 pounds of sugar per year, which does not include high fructose corn syrup, the main ingredient in soda and iced teas, which adds another 60 lbs. Sugar works in the body by giving us a quick high, which results in a crashing low, taking our energy and vitality with it. Sugar depletes the body of vitamins and minerals and adds excess fat. The heavier you are, the less energy you will have because your body is struggling to work under pressure from the weight. By reducing the amount of sugar and refined foods we consume, we can increase our lasting energy throughout the day. Many refined and processed foods have the same effect as ordinary table sugar because they too are missing the necessary fiber, vitamins and minerals needed to digest them in the body. When we eat refined foods, our body has to relinquish its stores of vitamins and minerals to aid in digestion, therefore depleting our stores and with it, our energy.
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Proper Nutrition for a High Performance Body… Amp Up Your Energy
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