Eight Great Healthy Snacks for Boosting Your Energy
We won’t keep you for too long in this introduction because we both know that what you want is to find some healthy snacks that will keep you going, the holy grail of any diet. Just as a warning though, be aware that a diet always has to be balanced and too much of anything is obviously, too much. In other words, don’t rely on snacks to get you through your day.
1 – Almonds
It’s long been known that almonds fill your body with many different nutrients such as magnesium and B vitamins that your body can thrive off. One of the many ways this manifests itself is in your body’s ability to convert your food into energy at a quicker rate.
It’s unsurprising that many believe that a lack of magnesium in the body will result in your tiring a lot quicker. Keep your servings relatively low and you’ll be able to bring your energy levels up while keeping those calorie worries down. Almonds are also the best snack to take along on an exercise session.
2 – Popcorn
While this may surprise you, air popped popcorn can actually be a healthy snack that will keep you going through the day. As a snack, they fill your body with whole-grain carbohydrates that allow you to keep going without the threat of a crash due to their high levels of fiber.
Take this with a pinch of salt, or don’t, because you obviously won’t get the same form of health benefits if you douse your popcorn in oil, butter, sugar or salt. Pop your own popcorn and then flavor them with some herbs or spices till you find exactly the kind of flavor that works for you.
3 – Bananas
You might not look at bananas as a meal or snack on their own, so maybe you should mix it with a small portion of yogurt if it makes you feel like you’re having something more substantial.
If you can manage it though, it’s easy enough to take a banana anywhere with you as a nice portable snack that will give you a nice pick up of energy while filling you with fiber, Vitamin B and Potassium. Yet another snack that’s great for a workout day.
4 – Pistachios
Of all the snacks highlighted here, Pistachios really are filled to the brim with a whole bunch of things that you want to get into your diet as much as possible. They contain protein, fiber, and monounsaturated fats that will keep you satisfied throughout the day while also keeping those energy levels high.
The amount of protein that you can snack on throughout the day that is in pistachios then you can use them throughout the twenty four hour grind to keep yourself going.
Many also believe that having to remove the shells keeps you from popping them back in the same way that you could other snacks, allowing you to stop from overeating and keep those calories low as well.
5 – Hummus
One of the world’s favorite snacks, a properly prepared hummus can actually be an incredibly healthy pick me up on both a normal day and a physically active one as well.
If you want to grab yourself some proper hummus that will keep you going without building up a heavy amount of calories, you’re going to have to do some online searching rather than picking up the nearest thing in your supermarket. That being said, it’s easy and very much worth it.
6 – Organic Dark Chocolate
It’s not always easy to find the perfect snack food that not only tastes great but also provides a significant energy boost. Organic dark chocolate is one of the rare snacks that can provide a tasty source of pick-me-up energy. This is due to the high cocoa content found in organic dark chocolate.
The cocoa, which naturally contains the stimulant theobromine, is known to improve both energy and mood. This makes organic dark chocolate the perfect snack choice for after lunch to help prevent that mid-day drag at work.
The key is moderation and to choose organic dark chocolate over milk chocolate in order to maximize the cocoa and antioxidant benefits while avoiding the dairy and higher fat content of milk chocolate.
7 – Pumpkin Seeds
Pumpkin seeds are amazingly nutrient dense considering their size. The benefits of pumpkin seeds range from improved mood, sleep, insulin regulation, bowel function, and blood vessel health, to name a few. They are a particularly exceptional source of magnesium which is vital for the production of ATP (adenosine triphosphate) which is responsible for providing cellular energy.
Pumpkin seeds are also an excellent source of zinc, iron, fiber, and omeg-3 fats while naturally boosting the immune system. A relatively small amount of pumpkin seeds daily, about 1/4 of a cup, is all it takes it to feel the energy and health benefits of these super-seeds.
8 – Celery
Celery is an obvious choice when it comes to healthy snacking due to its low-calorie content. But what celery lacks in calories, it more than makes up for in nutrient density. In terms of facilitating energy restoration, celery contains high levels of sodium and potassium, both of which are essential for muscle contractions throughout the body.
Having a glass of celery juice or a celery and peanut butter snack combo after a workout can go a long way towards replenishing the body’s natural stores of these vital electrolytes and help reduce post-workout recovery time. Other benefits to celery include lowering blood pressure, enhancing white blood cell activity, and causing a diuretic effect that encourages the flushing of toxins from the body via waste.
