Fast Food Fix

For the last few weeks I have been busy and feeling under pressure. When my energy levels dropped in the afternoons I would simply have a coffee and a chocolate bar to get a quick fix and get the energy boost needed to get me through the rest of the day.

At least twice now I have had what I thought was the beginning of a heart attack during my presentations. I became dizzy, couldn't breathe properly, felt my blood pressure rise sharply and my heart rate went through the roof. I couldn't think straight.

Knowing a little bit about heart attacks, I knew that I wasn't having one. I also knew that it felt like I was frightened of something, I was getting a sharp burst of adrenalin and cortisol in the same way that happens when I am nervous, frightened or worried.

I started reading about what was going on. It turns out that when we seek those energy boosters such as coffee and sugar, it has the opposite reaction after a short period. Initially, we get a burst of energy and then we get a deeper 'crash' after an hour or so.

To compensate for this crash adrenalin and cortisol is released into the body, just like when we are frightened, nervous or worried. And as you know, adrenalin and cortisol are poisons when they are continually released into the body.

Here are some quick fix tips on what to do to avoid low energy;

1. Drink green tea, not coffee or black tea.
2. Never skip breakfast.
3. Eat protein every meal.
4. Have a snack of fruit, nuts, cheese, hummus, or yoghurt between meals.
5. Avoid caffeine after midday.
6. Don't drink alcohol immediately before bedtime.

By doing these simple things, you will find your energy levels will rise and stay at their best all day.

Tomorrow I will take a closer look at the types of food that we should try to eat and more importantly, why. Don’t panic, I am not here to change your diet, just give you some things to ponder over.

Lance, a former police crisis negotiator and personnel development manager, now has a business providing enhanced communication and personal resilience support to businesses and organisations across all industries; https://www.warninternational.com/ 

Connect with me at; https://www.dhirubhai.net/in/warnlance