| Having energy throughout the day is, for many, | | | | superoxide dismutase. This enzyme helps keep |
| like chasing after the elusive white rabbit. Just | | | | energy flowing by inhibiting free radicals inside cells' |
| when you think you've got it, after a cup of | | | | mitochondria (the energy-producing area of cells). |
| coffee and a morning sweet roll, for instance, it | | | | Plus, they also contain riboflavin, another important |
| slips away and feels as though it was never even | | | | component of energy production. 5. Water We |
| there. Whether struggling with energy ups and | | | | know, it's not really a food, but it's so important |
| downs or, worse, feeling tired all the time, a lack | | | | that we decided to include it anyway. Water is |
| of energy is a real drain on your work and social | | | | necessary for your body to produce energy, |
| life. In fact, close to one-third of respondents to | | | | including digesting, absorbing and transporting |
| the 2005 National Sleep Foundation poll said they | | | | nutrients. If you don't drink enough of it, your cells |
| have missed work or other events, or made | | | | will be less able to receive the nutrients they need |
| errors at work, because of being too sleepy. | | | | for energy, leaving you feeling sluggish. If plain |
| Another 23 percent said their intimate or sexual | | | | water doesn't appeal to you, try spicing it up with |
| relationship had been negatively affected because | | | | a squeeze of lemon, lime or other citrus. 6. |
| of being too tired. Of course, many factors | | | | Cantaloupe This melon is an exceptional energy |
| contribute to your level of energy but one of the | | | | food because of its combination of vitamin B6, |
| most influential is what kinds of food you put in | | | | dietary fiber, folate, and niacin (vitamin B3). The B |
| your body. Overall, a healthy diet with fresh, | | | | vitamins (necessary for the body to process |
| minimally processed foods will give you drastically | | | | sugars and carbs) combined with fiber (which |
| more energy than a diet of mostly processed | | | | helps the sugars be distributed gradually) support |
| food. Specifically, adding the following eight foods | | | | energy production by keeping blood sugar levels |
| to your diet will rev up your energy and help | | | | stable. 7. Kiwi This tiny fruit often gets overlooked |
| keep you from yawning at 10 a.m., feeling your | | | | in favor of the more common apple or orange, |
| eyelids get heavy at 1 p.m., and nodding off during | | | | but it packs a powerful punch. With more vitamin |
| your afternoon meeting at 4 p.m.--and they taste | | | | C than an equal amount of orange, it's a potent |
| great too. (NOTE: Eating the certified organic | | | | energy-boosting food. When vitamin C levels are |
| versions of these foods will increase their | | | | depleted, people often feel tired. One study found |
| energy-boosting power even more.) 1. Lean Beef | | | | that women with low vitamin C levels felt more |
| or Chicken (ideally free-ranged) Adding a little | | | | energized after receiving vitamin C daily. "They |
| protein to every meal is essential to keep your | | | | felt better and they had more energy," said Carol |
| organs functioning and your energy levels up. Lean | | | | Johnston, PhD, assistant professor of food and |
| protein also contains tyrosine, an amino acid that | | | | nutrition in the family resources department at |
| helps your brain produce the chemicals | | | | Arizona State University. Other foods rich in |
| norepinephrine and dopamine, which improve your | | | | vitamin C include raw red or green pepper, |
| mental function. Turkey, pork tenderloin, eggs, | | | | broccoli, strawberries and Brussels sprouts. 8. |
| shellfish and sardines also contain tyrosine. 2. Black | | | | Oatmeal This morning favorite is loaded with |
| Beans Complex carbohydrates like those in black | | | | soluble fiber, a key to slowing down carbohydrate |
| beans and other legumes help keep your blood | | | | absorption and keeping blood sugar levels steady. |
| sugar levels balanced throughout the day, | | | | "A fiber-packed whole grain cereal, oatmeal is |
| providing a steady, slow-burning source of energy | | | | your best breakfast choice for long-lasting |
| to make you feel awake. Plus, black beans are a | | | | energy," says William Evans, PhD, director of the |
| rich source of iron, an integral part of hemoglobin, | | | | nutrition, metabolism, and exercise laboratory at |
| which transports oxygen in the body, and key | | | | the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences |
| enzyme systems for energy production and | | | | Veterans Affairs Medical Center. This article was |
| metabolism. 3. Seaweed Seaweeds like kelp, | | | | provided by the world's #1 most popular and |
| wakame, arame and dulse can be found in Asian | | | | trusted holistic living e-newsletter -- FREE to you |
| grocery stores and health food stores. It can be | | | | right now at The old way of thinking: "holistic |
| eaten dried, straight out of the bag, or added to | | | | living" pertains only to personal health. The new |
| soups, salads and vegetables. Seaweed contains | | | | way of thinking: "holistic living" means prevention |
| the broadest range of minerals of any food--the | | | | of the negative and adherence to the positive in |
| same minerals found in the ocean and in human | | | | all SIX practical areas of life: relationships, finances, |
| blood. It also contains pantothenic acid and | | | | career, home environment, safety and health. |
| riboflavin--two B-vitamins needed for your body | | | | With the e-newsletter, you will get holistic wisdom |
| to produce energy. 4. Almonds These tasty nuts | | | | from the world's top experts in all six of these |
| are rich in manganese and copper, both of which | | | | areas -- completely FREE with a simple sign-up |
| are essential cofactors of an enzyme called | | | | (and a guaranteed no-spam policy! |