The Real Reason You Can’t Get Up in the Mornings

Struggle getting up each day even if you’ve had your eight hours? This could be the reason why...

If you feel knackered or irritable by mid-afternoon and in need of a sweet fix or have no energy post work despite just sitting on your butt all day at a desk then there’s definitely something amiss, and it’s quite likely to do with your lack of iron. Many women suffer from low iron levels; in fact 91% of women aged 16-64 in the UK are not getting sufficient iron from their diet...

Low iron levels cause fatigue, low energy and a decreased ability to concentrate (would explain our work slump in the afternoon), plus it’s very difficult to get enough iron from your diet as your body finds it hard to absorb. Often, you can find yourself at the mercy of this at its worst during your period – ever got a mad craving for red meat during that time of the month? That’s your body calling for you to balance the lack of iron. Any excuse for a good steak... 

Five tips to help you eat for energy that energise you:

 1.    Eat breakfast, lunch and dinner plus a mid-morning and mid-afternoon snack – ‘Graze not gorge’

 

2.   In each meal combine good slow releasing carbohydrates e.g. fruit, vegetables, brown rice and good protein. Also regularly eat foods high in good fats, e.g.  fish, seeds, nuts, avocado and olive oil

 

3.   Eat five or more portions of fruit or vegetables per day

  

4.  Drink 1-2 litres of water per day

  

5 Keep below the recommended units of alcohol per day, (3-4 for men and 2-3 for women), also aim to keep drinks high in caffeine to a max of two per day 

 

You can of course take iron tablets but many people find them too strong for their systems .

    

While it isn’t a substitute for a healthy, balanced diet used together you should see a real difference inenergy levels which can only be a good thing.