Leading a physically active lifestyle is a great boost to your health, but a balanced diet is just as important to stay energised. If you lead an active lifestyle but are feeling sluggish and lacking in energy, it can be a sign that you’re not fuelling your body in the right way.
Making small changes to your diet and eating patterns can go a long way to increasing your energy levels and can help us achieve overall feelgood health and wellbeing by tweaking rather than giving up everything that we love.
Anthony Glock, AXA Health physiologist, shares his nutrition tips to help increase your daily energy levels, as well as which foods can help keep you healthy.
Food to help you feel good
Whether you’re looking for a quick energy boost, or an improvement in your overall health and wellbeing, increasing your intake of these feelgood foods can help you feel better than ever.
Blueberries
Blueberries are rich in antioxidants which help to support the immune system. They are also both low in sugar and a good source of fibre which as a result gives them a low Glycaemic Index (GI). This, together with their high flavonoid content, may help improve insulin sensitivity which is important for managing blood sugar levels.1
Broccoli
Full of vitamins such as vitamin C (helps the immune system), vitamin A (helps vision in dim light and helps your defences against illnesses2) and vitamin K which helps heal wounds.
It also contains various bioactive compounds that have been shown to reduce inflammation in your body’s tissues.3
Melons
Cantaloupe, honeydew and watermelon. 90% of their weight is water, so can help to maintain your energy levels and keep you hydrated!
Carrots
Carrots are high in beta carotenes, known to help maintain good eye health and aid eyesight. They can help maintain a well-functioning immune system and 80g of carrots will also give you one of your 5-a-day4.
>Try our carrot, kale and red lentil soup recipe
Beetroot
Bursting with minerals, beetroot is a great source of folate also known as vitamin B9. Folate is needed in the body to form healthy red blood cells and plays a role in reducing the risk of birth defects during pregnancy.
>Ever used beetroot in a chocolate cake? Try our recipe.
Brazil nuts
Brazil nuts are rich in selenium, an essential mineral with antioxidant properties. Selenium plays an important role in reproduction, metabolism, and immune health.
A single Brazil nut contains 68 to 91 micrograms (mcg) of selenium, meaning that just one nut per day can provide the daily recommended adult allowance of 55 mcg.5
Garlic
Garlic is an antioxidant, as well as an anti-inflammatory, and has lipid-lowering properties.
It has shown to have health-promoting and disease-preventing effects on many human common diseases, such as cancer, cardiovascular and metabolic disorders, blood pressure, and diabetes.6
>Try our roasted garlic and pumpkin hummus recipe
Cranberries
An 80g serving of fresh cranberries or a single 150ml glass of unsweetened cranberry juice counts towards one of your five-a-day.7
Best known for helping to prevent and treat urinary tract infections, especially cystitis in women, cranberries have both anti-fungal and antiviral properties. They also contain a plant compound that may reduce the risk of gastric ulcers and stomach cancer caused by the bacterium Helicobacter pylori.7