|
How can we overcome the energy slump
during the hours between 1 pm to 4 pm in the afternoon after a large
hearty meal?
The reason that causes the stupor and
sluggishness around the afternoon is when we have a large
carbohydrate-rich and low-protein midday meal our reflexes is slowed
down and alertness decreased. That is because the large amount
of food that we take during lunch requires a large amount of blood to
be diverted to our stomach for digestion causing the rest of our body,
especially the brain, to be suffering from the energy slump.
The glycemic index, or GI, is a measure
of how foods affect blood sugar levels. Rice have the highest
glycemic indices because they are foods that break down quickly.
Foods with high glycemic indices raise blood sugar levels higher and
quicker compared to low glycemic indices foods, in which they releases
sugar gradually into the bloodstream.
Vegetables, whole-grain bread, oatmeal
and brown rice are foods which has low glycemic indices whereby rich
in complex carbohydrates. In order to prevent those after-meal
energy slumps, feel full longer and sustain throughout the day, we
should include more low glycemic indices foods in our daily food
consumption. Low glycemic indices foods may also help reduce the
risk of cardiovascular diseases and prevent obesity and
carbohydrate-rich and low-protein foods will stimulate the brain such
as serotonin, a neurotransmitter related to sleep.
Since modern diet has been introduced, a
lot of us suffers from hypoglycemia which is the low sugar levels
become extremely low. A lot of our energy reserves is affected
by the blood sugar level. In normal cases, our body maintains
blood sugar levels within a range of about 70 to 110 milligrams per
deciliter of blood. Hypoglycemia is a result of high consumption
of simple carbohydrates like sweets, refined flour products and
alcohol combined with low consumption of fruits, vegetables and
whole-grain foods.
Hypoglycemia or mild sugar imbalance may
results in weakness, a feeling of faintness or dizziness, trembling,
nervousness and irritability, tingling in the extremities and breaking
out into a cold sweat. Signs of mild blood sugar imbalance are
clearly shown in cravings for sweet treats and carbohydrate-rich
foods, together with fatigue and fluctuations in energy levels, mood
and concentration. Glucose is our brain's major energy source
therefore, our brain is particularly sensitive to low blood sugar
levels.
|