What kind of food you eat plays an important role in your energy levels. Here’s why: Most carbohydrates break down into sugar in the digestive system, which is absorbed into the blood stream. This is what causes the roller coaster ride of energy highs and energy lows.
Your metabolism helps your body create energy, but when you switch to a low carb diet, your metabolism will actually start using fat for energy instead of carbs and sugar. Plus, the foods you eat on a low carb diet will naturally regulate your blood sugar, giving you a steady supply of energy all day long.
Fiber, while considered a carbohydrate, does not convert to sugar nor is absorbed into your blood stream, meaning it won’t raise your blood sugar (and contribute to fat production and storage) like the simple carbs found in white bread and pasta, candy, cookies and other junk food.
Protein also helps stabilize your blood sugar levels and takes more energy to digest, meaning it boosts your metabolism. Plus, protein also helps you build muscle, which is more metabolically active than fat. When you combine protein with healthy fats, it balances out your decreased carb intake while keeping your appetite and cravings under control.
If you start the day right, with high-energy, low carb meals and snacks featuring high-fiber veggies and fruits, protein and healthy fats, as well staying hydrated with at least six to eight glasses of water a day, you’re less likely to experience the highs and lows in your blood sugar. Instead, you’ll enjoy lasting and stable energy levels. You can say good-bye to those 2 p.m. energy slumps or uncontrollable cravings, while keeping your appetite satisfied and under control.
This low carb menu features a day’s worth of some of these 16 nutrient-rich, high-energy foods:
BREAKFAST: Eggs with Avocado and Salsa
SNACK: Sweet and Spicy Nuts
LUNCH: Colorful Sweet Potato and Taco Bowl or Sweet Potato and Spinach Salad
SNACK: Black Olives with Cheddar
DINNER: Blackened Salmon with Cucumber Relish and Mashed Cauliflower
DESSERT: Strawberries with French Cream or Keto Chocolate Chia and Coconut Pudding