Thanks to food processing, we can eat carbohydrates in so many different forms. We can eat them in whole grains such as rye or brown rice or muffins, pasta, pastries, candy, cookies, and bagels made from white flour. But have you ever felt a slow, steady supply of energy all day long after eating pastries?

Coffee is among the most popular morning and mid-afternoon pick-me-ups. But what if there was a more efficient way to get your energy levels back up when you hit a slump?



I don't believe there's anything wrong with a cup of fair trade organic coffee occasionally. High-quality organic coffee can actually provide the body with antioxidants. But when you become reliant on drinking coffee or eating sugar for energy each day, your body becomes dependent on a form of "fake” energy.

The coffee or sugar-inducing energy spikes and crashes put you on a highs and lows roller coaster. In general, stimulants such as coffee are unsustainable sources of energy. They give you a quick energy buzz (usually 1-3 hours) by spiking your blood sugar levels. But as the coffee or sugar wears off and blood sugar levels drop, the buzz wears off. This is where you'll either reach for something sugary, another cup of coffee, or an energy drink or curl up on the couch to nap. (You get irritable or moody at this time, too!)

Aside from energy spikes and crashes, constant stimulants can negatively impact your adrenal glands (the glands above your kidneys responsible for controlling your body's stress response). When your adrenal glands are taxed, your body has a harder time dealing with stress, and you can feel constantly fatigued. The exhaustion can create a false illusion of needing more caffeine or sugar to increase your energy levels.

As you can see, the nutritionally sound option for adding extra energy to your day is not in the form of stimulants that create a dependency, such as coffee or sugar. Instead, plant foods are the first thing nutritionists recommend to get your energy levels to soar.



The most important thing to consider when eating carbohydrates for energy is whether or not they've been processed. White flour and sugar have been so heavily processed that they no longer contain abundant vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Fiber is an important nutrient to carbohydrates because it slows down the release of their glucose into the bloodstream. Without fiber, carbohydrates digest very quickly and rapidly raise blood sugar levels. Much like coffee, this results in an even quicker energy spike and crash.

This is why pastries, white pasta, cookies, muffins, pop, and other baked goods are not considered good food for energy. Without their fiber, refined carbohydrates create the infamous energy spike and crash- not to mention they wreak havoc on your gut, strip your body of nutrients, and trigger fat storage.

So, what does this leave us with? The best foods to eat for energy are real, whole plant-based foods that contain fiber. Fruits and vegetables are two of the best foods to eat for energy that lasts all day. Vegetables are naturally lower in sugar, but pairing fruit (more concentrated in sugar) with a healthy fat or protein will help slow the release of sugar into your bloodstream and provide a steady energy supply. This means that a green smoothie blended with avocado would give you a lasting energy boost, like a banana, bowl of berries, or an apple with a handful of almonds.



Aside from fruits and vegetables, there's another amazing green superfood that can provide your body with plenty of long-lasting cellular energy: chlorella.

Chlorella is a single-celled green algae rich in fiber, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and a unique nutrient called Chlorella Growth Factor (CGF). CGF is a critical nutrient in your diet if you're constantly tired or craving stimulants. It provides your cells with nutrients such as nucleic acids, which the body usually has to produce itself. By receiving a dietary source of nucleic acids, your body doesn't have to work as hard to produce them, conserving energy. And the healthier your cells are, the more energy you'll have.

In addition to these nutrients, chlorella is one of the only plant sources to contain an active form of vitamin B12. Those deficient in B12 (most commonly vegetarians and vegans) can notice an improvement in their energy levels by consuming B12 from chlorella.

So, what better way to increase your energy levels (and health and wellness) naturally than by combining fiber-rich fruit with the health benefits of chlorella? This chlorella cacao energy bite recipe will provide the energy you crave throughout the day and satisfy your tastebuds.