Nutrition by Dawn - Blog

Feeling tired all the time? Can’t seem to focus? Barely have enough energy to get through the day? If you’re suffering from low energy levels, poor nutrition might just be the culprit.

As sad as it is to admit, most modern diets are loaded with starchy carbs, simple sugars, and processed foods. It’s no secret that foods like hamburgers, white bread, and ice cream can cause you to gain weight. But even for people who are at healthy weights and not obviously at risk of any serious health issues, eating a diet heavy in processed foods can impact how we feel on a day to day basis.

If you’re struggling with low energy, a lack of focus, mental fuzziness, or even mild depression/melancholia, I’d invite you to take a look at what’s on your plate this week. If a quick nutrition audit proves that you’re eating infrequently, chowing down on huge portions, over-caffeinating, or under-hydrating, then congrats—you’ve just discovered a problem.

The good news is that it’s fairly easy to increase your energy naturally by simply forming better nutrition habits. There’s no set, across-the-board formula that works for everyone on earth, but in general, here are a few tips to keep in mind:

• Eat as cleanly as possible. Fill your plate with lean proteins, fruits, and veggies whenever you can.

• Plan for small, infrequent meals. Sorry mom (and the intermittent fasting community), but all that talk about needing “three square meals a day” is actually a myth. I recommend eating every 3-4 hours.

• Make sure your meals are PFC balanced. This means appropriate servings of protein, healthy fats, and healthy carbs at every single meal.

• Drink your water! Women should be drinking at least 2-3 liters of water per day. Caffeinated beverages and carbonated water don’t count.

• Limit your caffeine and alcohol. I know cutting out caffeine when you’re tired feels especially counterintuitive, but caffeine dependency can have a severe impact on our overall energy levels!

No one eats perfect, clean meals 100% of the time. However, if you can practice these healthy eating habits *most* of the time, you might just be amazed at how your energy levels improve.

Give your health habits some thought and let me know in the comments: Do you feel like you’re getting the energy you need from your food? Or is your nutrition a source of fatigue and mental haziness?

Want to continue the conversation? Join my free Facebook community, NEVER DIET AGAIN, or click here to download my free guide, “7 Nutrition Lies We’ve All Been Fed.”

Note: While improving your nutrition is usually a good thing, it’s worth noting that you should always consult your physician if you’re experiencing prolonged or severe fatigue, unfocused thoughts, or mood issues.