WomensHealth
  • News
  • Health
  • Fitness
  • Sex & Love
  • Food
  • Lifestyle
  • Weight Loss
  • Women In Sport
  • Podcasts
  • Subscribe
  • Video
WomensHealth
  • News
  • Health
  • Fitness
  • Sex & Love
  • Food
  • Lifestyle
  • Weight Loss
  • Women In Sport
  • Podcasts
  • Subscribe
  • Video
This Simple, Effective Ab Workout Will Shred Your Six-Pack
Watch 0:23

This Simple, Effective Ab Workout Will Shred Your Six-Pack

{headline}

{headline}

Salami Roses Are Here To Take Your Charcuterie Boards To The Next Level

Salami Roses Are Here To Take Your Charcuterie Boards To The Next Level

Why We Need To Stop Thinking About Some Foods As Empty Calories

Why We Need To Stop Thinking About Some Foods As Empty Calories

Everything You Need To Know About The Nordic Diet

Everything You Need To Know About The Nordic Diet

2021: The Year You Need Adaptogens In Your Life

2021: The Year You Need Adaptogens In Your Life

{headline}

{headline}

A 105-Year-Old New Jersey Woman Who Beat Covid Swears By This Snack

A 105-Year-Old New Jersey Woman Who Beat Covid Swears By This Snack

Is a Low-Fat or Low-Carb Diet Best for Runners?

Is a Low-Fat or Low-Carb Diet Best for Runners?

Is Matcha Green Tea Really A Superfood, Or Is It Just A Fad?

Is Matcha Green Tea Really A Superfood, Or Is It Just A Fad?

{headline}

{headline}

3 Nutrition Tricks To Maximise Your Workout

3 Nutrition Tricks To Maximise Your Workout

The “Extra Special” Pancake Recipe The Queen’s Chefs Swear By

The “Extra Special” Pancake Recipe The Queen’s Chefs Swear By

Can Frozen Food Spread The Coronavirus? Scientists Weigh-In

Can Frozen Food Spread The Coronavirus? Scientists Weigh-In

New Reports Claim That These Are The Worst Fridges You Can Buy In 2021

New Reports Claim That These Are The Worst Fridges You Can Buy In 2021

5 Vegan Desserts That Will Leave You Drooling For More

5 Vegan Desserts That Will Leave You Drooling For More

PSA: Pancake Charcuterie Boards Are Here To Bring Joy To AM Gatherings

PSA: Pancake Charcuterie Boards Are Here To Bring Joy To AM Gatherings

I Got Abs From Carb Cycling: Here's How I Did It

I Got Abs From Carb Cycling: Here's How I Did It

  1. Home
  2. Food

8 Surprising Foods That Are Making You Totally Exhausted

These foods are most likely to induce those deadly food comas - by Allison Young From Prevention
  • 29 Jul 2016
8 Surprising Foods That Are Making You Totally Exhausted
Getty Images

Raise your hand if it feels like you're running on fumes or you're tired all the time. Yep, we thought so. But consider this: It's not just your endless to-do list and inconsistent sleep schedule that's sapping your energy—it could also be your seemingly healthy diet. We're not talking about the obvious lethargy-inducing doughnuts and refined carbs, but many healthy eats that can actually mess with your digestion, spike blood sugar, and literally wake you up in the middle of the night.

 

Here, eight surprising foods that are sucker-punching your stamina, with the energy-boosting swaps to make instead:

 

RELATED: 10 Signs You Have An Iron Deficiency

...
Getty Images

OATS
Plain porridge is a fantastic energy food, but adding maple syrup or opting for instant flavoured packages means loads of added sugar—and, consequently, a quick blood sugar spike and energy-sucking crash later, says Dr Michelle Babb, author of Anti-Inflammatory Eating Made Easy. In fact, just one-quarter cup of maple syrup—easy to drizzle even if you think you have a light hand—packs a whopping 50 grams of sugar.  

Power up: Stick with oatmeal, but top your bowl with energy-sustaining fixings like nut butter, chopped nuts, or chia seeds. "These contain protein and healthy fats to minimize your body's blood sugar response," says Babb.

RELATED: Oatmeal Recipes That Will Change Your Life Before 8am

...
Getty Images

NUTS
The problem with nuts: They're easy to overeat, which, in turn, can leave you dragging, says Babb. That's because nuts are high in fat, some of which is good for you, but too much will end up taxing your digestion and may even boost hormones that contribute to sleepiness. (Check out 3 more downsides to eating too many nuts here.)

Power up: Divvy up one-quarter cup servings of nuts into snack-size bags so you don't overeat. Better yet, pair nuts with an apple for a dose of fibre to help fill you up without all the extra fat and calories.

...
Getty Images

FAT-FREE FLAVOURED YOGHURT
Not all yogurt is created equal. In fact, a 180ml container of fat-free strawberry yoghurt from a well-known organic brand packs an insane 35 grams of sugar—that's way more than a Snickers bar. Crash city!


Power up: Opt for plain Greek yoghurt and top it with berries and nuts. Greek yoghurt packs twice the blood sugar-stabilizing protein of regular yogurt, and high-fibre berries deliver a dose of sweetness without the crash.

RELATED: This Is The Best Yoghurt For You

VEGGIE CHIPS
Just because you see "veggie" is in the name, don't assume you're getting a daily hit of greens. These salty, crunchy, ultra-processed sticks are often made primarily from potato starch, a refined carb that will leave you feeling lethargic if you overdo it, says Babb. 

Power up: Make your own veggie chips or fries using fresh kale, sweet potatoes, or beets. Too much work? You can also go old school and pack raw carrots with hummus for a traditional snack that packs energy-sustaining protein and fiber.
 

...
Getty Images

RED WINE
Research shows that wine before bed messes with your sleep cycle and can cause next-day grogginess. Even though a glass or two can cause you to fall asleep faster, your snooze time is often short-lived, lasting just a few hours before you wake up tossing and turning. Plus, alcohol is dehydrating, which can cause fatigue and mess with focus.


Power up: Skip the nightcap, or have your last drink two to three hours before bed. Wine with lunch or dinner is a better bet—and don't forget to toss back a glass of water for every drink you have.

RELATED: The Health Benefits Of Quitting Drinking

...
Getty Images

COFFEE
If you have sleep problems, you may want to consider tweaking your coffee habit and have your first cup later in the morning after levels of the stress hormone cortisol, typically higher when you wake up, begin to stabilize. And don't even think about having a cuppa after 3 p.m.: Research shows that consuming caffeine less than six hours before bed can cause you to lose an hour or more of quality sleep. 

Power up: Drink your morning brew between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. for an optimal energy boost—that's when cortisol levels naturally start to taper, so you'll truly benefit from the caffeine boost. And cut yourself off around 3 p.m., or approximately six hours before you hit the sack.

RELATED: Is Gelatin Java The New Bulletproof Coffee?

...
Getty Images

FRUIT SMOOTHIES
Don't be fooled by store-bought fruit smoothies: they are a ticking sugar bomb in disguise with sometimes over 50 grams of the sweet stuff and not enough fat, protein, or fibre to keep your engine revved. You can do as much damage at home, too, if you're forgetting to add a source of protein or fat to your homemade blend.

Power up: Make your own smoothies from fruit and/or veggies, but always include a source of protein and/or a healthy fat like nut butter or avocado.

RELATED: The Exact Amount Of Fruit To Put In Your Smoothies

ENERGY BARS
Sure, they may be packed with vitamins and minerals, but energy bars are often loaded with sweeteners that can cause drastic fluctuations in energy levels, especially if you're eating them as a snack and not to power through a workout. In fact, the first ingredient in one very well known energy bar is brown rice syrup. "These are pretty much going to behave like candy bars in your body," says Babb. 

Power up: Opt for energy bars made from real food. The shorter and more recognisable the ingredient list is on a bar, the better. Also, make sure sugar or another sweetener isn't the first thing listed, and opt for bars with a decent amount of fibre and protein.

Subscribe Now-

Subscribe Now
Subscribe Now

Subscribe Now-

Subscribe Now
Subscribe Now

Recommended to you

This Simple, Effective Ab Workout Will Shred Your Six-Pack
Watch 0:23

This Simple, Effective Ab Workout Will Shred Your Six-Pack

{headline}

{headline}

Salami Roses Are Here To Take Your Charcuterie Boards To The Next Level

Salami Roses Are Here To Take Your Charcuterie Boards To The Next Level

Why We Need To Stop Thinking About Some Foods As Empty Calories

Why We Need To Stop Thinking About Some Foods As Empty Calories

Everything You Need To Know About The Nordic Diet

Everything You Need To Know About The Nordic Diet

2021: The Year You Need Adaptogens In Your Life

2021: The Year You Need Adaptogens In Your Life

{headline}

{headline}

A 105-Year-Old New Jersey Woman Who Beat Covid Swears By This Snack

A 105-Year-Old New Jersey Woman Who Beat Covid Swears By This Snack

Is a Low-Fat or Low-Carb Diet Best for Runners?

Is a Low-Fat or Low-Carb Diet Best for Runners?

Is Matcha Green Tea Really A Superfood, Or Is It Just A Fad?

Is Matcha Green Tea Really A Superfood, Or Is It Just A Fad?

{headline}

{headline}

3 Nutrition Tricks To Maximise Your Workout

3 Nutrition Tricks To Maximise Your Workout

The “Extra Special” Pancake Recipe The Queen’s Chefs Swear By

The “Extra Special” Pancake Recipe The Queen’s Chefs Swear By

Can Frozen Food Spread The Coronavirus? Scientists Weigh-In

Can Frozen Food Spread The Coronavirus? Scientists Weigh-In

New Reports Claim That These Are The Worst Fridges You Can Buy In 2021

New Reports Claim That These Are The Worst Fridges You Can Buy In 2021

5 Vegan Desserts That Will Leave You Drooling For More

5 Vegan Desserts That Will Leave You Drooling For More

PSA: Pancake Charcuterie Boards Are Here To Bring Joy To AM Gatherings

PSA: Pancake Charcuterie Boards Are Here To Bring Joy To AM Gatherings

I Got Abs From Carb Cycling: Here's How I Did It

I Got Abs From Carb Cycling: Here's How I Did It

WomensHealth
  • Contact Us
  • About Paragon Media
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Statement
  • Contact Paragon Media
  • Contact Us
  • About Paragon Media
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Statement
  • Contact Paragon Media

Brands

Our Network

  • Paragon Media Pty Ltd
  • Men’s Health
© 2021 Are Media PTY LTD
Get more from

Magazine Subscription Offer

Subscribe Now-

Shop This Offer
Subscribe Now