Is Your Low Energy Caused by Poor Nutrition?

It’s hard to eat right these days. Not only are social media feeds filled with fad diets and “get healthy quick” schemes, but who has the time? Simply stated, proper nutrition plays a crucial role in your overall health and wellness. So cutting corners with your diet can put your body at risk.

At South Naperville Family Practice, Dr. Richard Steslow brings a holistic approach to comprehensive health care in Aurora, Illinois. That means he focuses on treating the whole person, not just the symptoms. And one of the most important things required for a healthy body is a good diet. 

If you’ve noticed changes with your energy levels, here are a few reasons you should look more closely at your nutrition.

You are what you eat

This simple metaphor couldn’t be more accurate. The food you eat is where you get the nutrients needed to power all of your bodily systems, from cellular growth and organ function to brain health and stamina. 

Not all foods are created equal, of course. And not all food gets converted to energy within your body at the same rate. That’s why grabbing a piece of candy may give you a quick boost of energy, while eating healthy, non processed foods creates the energy reserves you need to fuel you throughout the day.

Plus, in addition to poor energy, you can also experience weight gain, nutrient imbalances, and inflammation. In a healthy body, inflammation is part of the healing process, fighting off intruders like viral and bacterial infections that it sees as a threat. 

However, when left unchecked, inflammation can also cause chronic diseases, like heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) — conditions that can also cause pain and fatigue.

Foods that zap your energy

While it’s normal to notice ebbs and flows with your energy level throughout the day, certain foods are known to drain your energy, such as:

• Processed grains, like white rice, pasta, and bread
• Foods with added sugar, like breakfast cereal, juice, energy drinks, and flavored yogurt
• Fried and fast foods, often high in fat and low in fiber
• Low-calorie foods, which can lead to insufficient calorie consumption

Eating for energy and a healthy body

If your diet isn’t supporting good health, Dr. Steslow can help you to develop a personalized treatment strategy. In general terms, you should focus on whole, non processed foods, like:

• Vegetables should be the main focus of every meal including: carrots, broccoli, spinach, and Brussels sprouts
• Lean proteins, like poultry, fish, and bison
• Healthy unsaturated fats, like avocados and olive oil
• Healthy carbs, like sweet potatoes and spaghetti squash
• Nuts in limited quantities can be healthy including: pecans, walnuts, pistachios, almonds, and macadamia
• Limited amounts of fruits, remember, berries are always best

Dr. Steslow can also help you identify hidden refined sugars and white starches. They may be fine as infrequent treats, but they shouldn’t be a part of your daily diet. These types of foods may taste great, but they can be addicting and leave you feeling depleted while craving more sweets after a quick surge in energy. 

If you need more than nutritional tips to overhaul your health and diet, Dr. Steslow also offers medically supervised nutrition and weight loss programs.

Are you curious to see how your nutrition is impacting your health and wellness? Call our office in Aurora, Illinois, at 630-296-6019 to schedule an appointment today. You can also send a message to Dr. Steslow and the team here on our website.