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Couples Riding Reaching for an energy drink to get over the that mid-afternoon slump is part of

Replace your energy drink your daily routine, consider this: a 16 oz. can of Red Bull contains 52 grams of sugar, about the same

amount as 11 Oreo cookies. Although energy drinks claim to provide a boost to mental and physical

stimulation, Tristaca Curley, a dietician based in British Columbia, says these effects are short lived.
“You may feel energized for an hour or so and then a couple of hours later you crash and [may end
Alternatives
up] feeling worse than you were prior to the energy drink,” says Curley.

Green Tea Protein shakes Water Green juice

It contains a smaller amount Lack of protein is a com- Curley calls water the world’s
of caffeine than coffee does, mon cause of fatigue. A high best energy drink. “All of The dark green vegetables such
and Curley says that the many quality protein shake can help the metabolic reactions that as spinach, parsley and kale
health benefits of green tea your body reach its nutrient happen in our body happen used in green drinks are a great
(includingdecreased risk of requirement, but Curley warns in water,” she says. “As soon source of B vitamins which
heart disease and cancer) that simply mixing a protein as we’re dehydrated all those our body requires for metab-
make it a great energy drink powder into a shake won’t give metabolic reactions start to olism to run at its peak. “If
option. There’s also evidence you an energy boost. Protein slow down and you start to your metabolism is [high], your
that green tea helps improve requires carbohydrates to turn feel sluggish.” Dehydration body is able to produce enough
http://res.mindbodygreen.com/img/ftr/green_tea_pot.png http://www.teamajesty.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Green-Tea-Diet.jpg
mental clarity and perfor- into an energy we can use. Add is one of the mainreasons we energy at a faster rate,” says
mance, making it a great fruit, wheat germ or quinoa to experience a drop in energy. Curley. Since the best sources
alternative to an afternoon your shake with 10 grams of If you think drinking water is of energy are whole foods,
cup of coffee. protein from a powder, yogurt, boring, spruce it up by adding high metabolism combined
milk or soy milk for a more fruit slices or some blueber- with a diet full of vitamins and
sustainable energy boost. ries or strawberries. The fruit nutrients will have you feeling
provides some carbohydrates fueled all day lonThe dark
and B vitamins for an extra green vegetables such as spin-
nutritional punch. ach, parsley and kale used in
green drinks are a great source
of B vitamins which our body
requires for metabolism to run
at its peak. “If your metabo-
lism is [high], your body is able
to produce enough energy at a
faster rate,” says Curley. Since
the best sources of energy are
whole foods, high metabolism
combined with a diet full of vi-
tamins and nutrients will have
you feeling fueled all day long.

fuse COUPLES HEALTH & FITNESS 8 | August 2014