Do you know this situation? You sleep well and long enough, move regularly in the fresh air—and yet still feel constantly tired and sluggish. Then it is time to reconsider your eating habits. The wrong food choices during the day can lead to fatigue and exhaustion, for example when a meal is difficult to digest. As a result, more blood is pumped through the gastrointestinal tract and less through the brain, which leads to tiredness. These foods drain your energy: 

Empty and simple carbohydrates

White flour products and (too much) sugar provide the body with energy but cause blood sugar levels to rise and fall rapidly. The result is fatigue. Better choices are complex carbohydrates, such as those found in whole grains, spelt, oats, legumes, and vegetables. Be careful also with hidden industrial sugar found in many processed foods and convenience meals. It is worth checking the ingredients list. 

Fatty, fried foods

Burgers, French fries, or pizza sit heavily in the stomach. To digest high-fat foods, the body requires much more blood than for plant-based or low-fat products. This reduces blood flow to the brain, making us feel sluggish. 

Low-fat flavored yogurt and fruit smoothies

Low fat may sound healthy. However, low-fat yogurt often contains a lot of sugar, which makes us sleepy. The same applies to popular supermarket fruit smoothies. 

Nuts

Nuts are generally a healthy snack. However, it is often hard to stop eating them because they are so tasty. Nuts contain a lot of fat, which puts a considerable strain on the digestive system. This drains the body’s energy.