The start of the week is always a time that finds us tired, worn out and dreading the week of work ahead, but eating the right food can prevent you from feeling run down and get you in the mood to get productive.
Dr Jacques Snyman, director of product development for Agility Channel explained that sugary cereals could actually be sabotaging your performance at work and school.
“Sugary and refined foods are the enemy of productivity,” said Snyman.
“Sadly in our busy working lives, too many South Africans opt for convenience foods thinking that they are saving time without considering what such foods do for their sustained mental and physical energy levels.”
According to a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Carbohydrate, Memory and Mood, people who ate a meal of simple carbohydrates (with a high glycaemic index (GI), had roughly similar memory scores to those who ate complex carbohydrates (low GI) for the first hour-and-a-half after a meal.
However, the group that ate low GI carbohydrates, such as those found in whole grains, scored significantly better on memory tests two-and-a-half to three-and-a-half hours later.
This could prove especially helpful to scholars and students who are inundated with tests on a daily basis.
Snyman further explained that food which has a high GI is absorbed quickly into the bloodstream, but the energy cannot be sustained for long periods of time, and this is what causes people to ‘crash’ after what is commonly known as a ‘sugar rush’.
Fortunately, there are a number of healthier alternatives which are quick and simple to prepare, and will keep your energy levels stable throughout the day.
“The key is to replace starchy and sugary foods with more complex carbohydrates, such as whole-grain bread instead of white bread, and incorporate protein and small amounts of unsaturated fats into your daily diet,” suggested Snyman.
