۶ Foods That Drain Your Energy

It’s normal for your energy levels to rise and fall slightly during the day.
A variety of factors can affect this natural ebb and flow. These include sleep and stress levels, your level of physical activity and the foods you eat.
Generally, having a meal or snack tends to refuel your tank, helping you feel more energetic. However, some foods may actually zap your energy.
This article lists seven foods that have the potential to drain your energy.

۱. White Bread, Pasta and Rice
Grains are rich in carbs, which provide the body with a good source of energy.
However, processed grains such as those found in white bread, white pasta and white rice may actually cause more harm than good when it comes to your energy levels.
That’s partly because the fiber-containing outer layer of the grain, known as the bran, is removed during processing. Because of this, processed grains contain lower levels of fiber and tend to be digested and absorbed more quickly than whole grains (1Trusted Source). For this reason, a meal or snack rich in processed grains generally creates a quick rise in blood sugar and insulin levels, followed by a drop in energy.
In contrast, whole grains help you regulate your blood sugar levels and help keep your energy constant throughout the day (2Trusted Source).
Processed grains also lack another important part of the grain: the germ. The germ contains many important nutrients that can also play a role in maintaining your energy levels.
For instance, the germ is especially rich in B vitamins, which your body can use to create energy (3).

۲. Breakfast Cereals, Yogurts and Other Foods With Added Sugars
Foods containing high amounts of added sugars can zap your energy levels rather than boost them. They may also increase your cravings for other sugary foods.

۳. Coffee
When consumed in moderation, coffee can boost energy levels and provide a slew of additional benefits. However, regularly relying on coffee to boost your energy levels, rather than on proper nutrition and sleep, can backfire over the long term.

۴. Energy Drinks
Energy drinks can provide a short-term boost in energy levels. However, their high sugar and caffeine content can reduce the duration and quality of your sleep and cause your energy
levels to crash, leaving you feeling drained.

۵. Fried and Fast Foods
Fried and fast foods are often low in nutrients, high in fat and low in fiber. They can slow down your digestion and displace energy-boosting nutrients from your diet, potentially draining your energy levels over the long term.

۶. Low-Calorie Foods
Low-calorie foods are not effective at boosting your energy levels. They can also cause you to consume fewer calories per day than your body needs, disturbing your hormone balance and metabolism, and leaving you feeling drained.