When we want a quick hit of energy, it can be all too tempting to just have one of the countless varieties of energy drinks available; to down it like a shot and then wait for the massive amounts of sugar and unpronounceable chemicals to work their way through our bodies.
These drinks are effective, although the effects don’t last, and the vast quantities of sugar can be very harmful, particularly if taken on a prolonged basis.
Excessive caffeine can also be harmful, yet the energy hit from a cup of coffee is healthier than an energy drink, since the caffeine enters our bodies in an unrefined state.
But for a natural, effective boost that slowly releases energy into our bodies, then we can’t look past juice made from fresh fruits and vegetables. Let’s look at some of the most effective fruits for boosting energy, as well as the best juicing recipes for weight loss.
Bananas
Bananas are high in fructose, and as such, they’re a perfect energy boosting food, wrapped in a convenient package (OK, so the package is a banana peel).
An ideal breakfast if you’re short on time is to add a chopped banana to a glass of skim milk and blitz in a food processor until you have a delicious smoothie. If you want to add a little extra sweetness, then by all means add a spoonful of honey, but try to avoid adding sugar.
Lemons
The health benefits of the humble lemon have long been known, and there are many health pills and drinks that boast of their citrus extracts.
But why not enjoy the lemon in its natural state? The juice of one lemon mixed with warm water and consumed each morning aids weight loss, when taken on an ongoing basis, as the diluted lemon juice speeds up your body’s ability to burn sugar. Lemon juice also assists hydration, meaning you’ll feel refreshed and energized.
Carrots
While vegetable juices aren’t to everyone’s tastes, a vegetable juice can be an ideal energy booster. You can even find sauerkraut juice on German supermarket shelves, but if you don’t much like the idea of juice made from pickled cabbage, then consider the carrot.
Carrots are reasonably low in sugar, and carrot juice with a small amount of grated ginger is amazingly high in vitamin C, great for warding off winter colds and flu, as well as giving you that much needed energy boost.
Spinach
This might seem an odd choice for juice, but spinach is full of iron, and does amazing things for a persons energy levels. An entire glass of spinach juice is probably a bit much to manage, but spinach is an ideal addition to other juices.
Simply toss in a small handful of spinach leaves while blending your juice, and you’ll get the full health benefits of the spinach, without changing the flavour of your juice. Spinach has a high water content, and so it seems to absorb the flavours of whatever it’s prepared with, particularly when it comes to juicing.
You might need to invest in a good quality juicer or blender to get the full health benefits of fruit and vegetable juices, but it’s well worth it! If you had to manually juice all those fresh ingredients, it might be great for your arm muscles, but it’s entirely possible you’ll give up after a day or two.
Today’s guest-post by Ashley Williamson. Ashley is a part-time blogger and a full-time health specialist. When she is not working she likes to go hiking and discover hidden places around the globe.
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