Feel Sleepy? Foods That Keep You Awake and Focused

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If you find yourself waking up exhausted most mornings, you might do the thing that millions of people would do, which is to have a cup of coffee. However, although this is hardly unusual or unhealthy, relying too much on caffeine may lead to a lower rate of return with each subsequent drink, requiring you to drink more to stay awake or restless.

In contrast to the caffeine, fresh seasonal fruits and vegetables, nuts and seeds, and foods high in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants flood our body with nutrients that help counteract fatigue and sustain us throughout the day.

Try one of these power-packed foods that can help take you from sleepy to supercharged without caffeine!

1. Eggs

An egg can contains high-quality protein and healthy fats, which in combination keeps us satiated and offers sustained energy throughout the day.

Eggs are an excellent source of a variety of vitamins and minerals, including iron, choline, vitamin D, and vitamin B-12.

Remember to always eat the whole egg! Egg yolk contains vitamins, minerals and a large amount of total protein, which is the most nutritious part of an egg.

2. Avocado

Avocado is rich in nutrients and contains a variety of nutrients, including 20 different vitamins and minerals, which can provide the body with energy for several hours. They contain lots of fiber, keeping our blood sugar stable so we can avoid those sugar highs, followed by the lows.

Try adding avocado to your morning fruit plate, throw it into a smoothie for a delicious creamy consistency, or pair your eggs with sliced avocado for an extra boost.

3. Almonds

Almonds are an excellent source of high-quality protein, fiber, and healthy monounsaturated fats. They contain vitamins B which help your body convert food into energy, and are rich in magnesium which helps fight muscle fatigue.

Add almonds into your morning granola or grab one or two as a mid-morning snack.

4. Dates

Dates are a source of fructose, which is a natural type of sugar found in fruit. For this reason, dates are very sweet and also have a subtle caramel-like taste. They make a great healthy substitute for white sugar in recipes due to the nutrients, fiber and antioxidants that they provide. In addition, dates are easily digested by the body and provide an instant boost of energy.

Add chopped dates to your morning fruit plate, throw a couple into your smoothie for extra sweetness, or dip them into almond butter for a yummy snack.

5. Chia seeds

Small but mighty, these guys are an excellent source of energy. Chia seeds soak up fluids and can expand to as much as 10 times their size in the stomach after being digested. This helps you feel full for longer periods of time.

They’re filled with antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, protein, fat, and fiber.

Experiment with chia pudding or sprinkle chia seeds onto your next smoothie.