National Women's Nutrition Week - April 1-7

National Women’s Nutrition Week

It’s 3 o’clock in the afternoon, you are irritated, your head is fuzzy and your eyes are having trouble focusing. You would love to find a corner and go to sleep, but there is no time. How about a coffee or a chocolate bar?

Most of us instinctively reach for sweets or caffeine to give relief from the morning sluggishness or afternoon slump. We use sweets as a way of helping ourselves through stressful times. Those strategies might help, temporarily, but there is a downside to these methods. Poor eating strategies affect our brain chemistry and cause fatigue, apathy, apprehension, edginess and the blues.

Don’t confuse thirst with hunger. Drinking a cool glass of water can boost energy in the middle of the afternoon slump. Beverly Beuermann-King Click to tweet

5 Simple Strategies To Avoid The Sugar Blues

Eat breakfast, lunch and dinner. Smaller balance meals are preferable to large meals
Use exercise or stretching to increase energy and lift the ‘fog’
Include fish in your weekly diet as the essential fatty acids they contain increase energy and improve mood
Don’t confuse thirst with hunger. Drinking a cool glass of water can boost energy in the middle of the afternoon slump
Have healthy snacks readily available. Plan ahead and keep them in desk drawers, lockers or even in the glove box of your car

Beverly’s Hot Tip For Building Resiliency and Celebrating National Women’s Nutrition Month:

We have all heard the saying ‘We are what we eat’, but most of us connect this with the body’s physical reactions. Our brain is just as dependent on the food that we consume. Healthy food choices help us avoid the erratic blood sugar levels and associated mood swings, which can keep us mentally healthy. Plan your snacks ahead of time and avoid the sugar blues.

If you have some strategies to share – comment on this posting!