Meditation and Food: What to Eat to Boost Your Energy
Meditation and Food: What to Eat to Boost Your Energy
There are many reasons to practice meditation, and the ability to keep your energy levels up throughout the day and focus on the tasks at hand may be the reason you need right now. Luckily, there are many foods that can help boost your energy while you meditate, so you can have it all—a clear mind, fresh body, and abundant energy. Let’s take a look at some of these foods and why they’re so beneficial to your meditation practice.
Why Does Food Affect Our Meditative State?
Foods with a high glycemic index—those that cause rapid spikes in blood sugar levels—are known to disrupt our bodies’ natural rhythms. And, unfortunately, most people eat a diet filled with foods with a high glycemic index, which is why they can't focus their meditative efforts on achieving one-pointedness.
What You Need to Know About Brain Choline
Choline is a nutrient found in meat, eggs, dairy products, soybeans, avocados, wheat germ, spinach and peanuts. Choline works with vitamin B12 to turn fats into energy for our cells. It also helps produce serotonin—an important brain chemical that boosts mood and appetite control. Research suggests it may help boost memory when taken in supplemental form.
The Amino Acid Tryptophan
An important natural ingredient in food, tryptophan is an amino acid that is converted into serotonin, a neurotransmitter responsible for a positive mood. Thus, when you eat foods rich in tryptophan you not only feel relaxed but also enjoy an increased state of focus. High-tryptophan foods include chicken, turkey, sesame seeds, oats, almonds and raisins.
The Protein Phenylalanine
Foods rich in protein can also boost your energy, thanks to a compound called phenylalanine. Found in many protein-rich foods—including meats, eggs, fish, milk products, nuts and seeds—phenylalanine aids in improving attention span.
The Nutrient Tyrosine
Tyrosine is a non-essential amino acid that acts as a precursor to neurotransmitters, including dopamine. It has been linked to increased energy levels and reduced stress. Foods high in tyrosine include almonds, bananas, avocados, eggs, lima beans, melons (especially cantaloupe), pecans and turkey. In addition, cinnamon contains tyrosine.
Magnesium Helps Us Stay Calm
The mineral magnesium helps regulate energy levels in our cells, thereby keeping us calm. Magnesium-rich foods include raw spinach, dark chocolate, pumpkin seeds, whole grains, almonds, avocados and bananas. Other great sources of magnesium include green leafy vegetables (broccoli is a top choice), mushrooms and some legumes. Be sure to get at least 400 milligrams of magnesium daily; if you are deficient in magnesium or need more than that daily amount, consider taking a supplement.
Avoid Sugar Before Meditation
It might seem like a strange idea, but if you’re looking for a boost of energy, avoid eating sugar right before meditation. Sugar will give you an initial jolt of energy—but then that energy will plummet within 30 minutes. (In fact, it may even make you feel more tired.) Plus, consuming lots of sugar can lead to spikes in blood sugar and insulin levels—both of which can make you feel foggy-headed.
How Dark Chocolate Can Help with Stress Relief
When we’re stressed, our natural instinct is to try and fight that stress with hard-hitting tactics, whether that means chugging coffee or scarfing down a pint of ice cream. But there are more subtle ways of combating stress, like eating dark chocolate. Dark chocolate actually raises levels of tryptophan in your blood stream—and if you haven’t heard of it before, tryptophan is a precursor for serotonin production.
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