How to get energy fast

5htpand carbohydrate control

Carbohydrates… it’s definitely a word we have all heard before and usually one we associate with foods that we eat to give us energy. Carbohydrate rich foods can usually be converted easily into glucose, which is the form of sugar that is used by our bodies to give it energy and keep us going throughout the day.

However as many are also aware, a diet with too many carbohydrates can result in us gaining weight quicker than we might like. This is caused by our bodies blood sugar level increasing that not only means weight gain, but can also leave us feeling irritable and tired. It is advised that you balance your level of carbohydrates with a healthy balance of protein, fat and fiber.

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There are two types of carbohydrates; complex and simple.

Complex carbohydrates can either be found as a “natural starch” in foods or as a more unhealthy starch that can be found in “processed foods”. Complex carbohydrates that can be found in foods as “natural starch” includes products like bananas, barley, beans, wholegrain products (including cereals, rice, breads, flour, pasta, etc.) chickpeas, lentils, nuts, oats, etc.

Complex carbohydrates that are found as a starch that are not so natural include; biscuits, pastries and cakes, pizzas, sugary processed breakfast cereals, white bread, flour, pasta, and rice, etc.

Simple carbohydrates are also known as sugars and exist again in two formats; natural or refined form. Natural carbohydrate sugars are found in fruit and vegetables,  Refined sugars on the other hand are found in the following foods; biscuits, cakes and pastries, chocolate,  honey and jams, jellies, brown and white cane sugar, pizzas, prepared foods and sauces, soft drinks along with sweets and snack bars.

So what is the difference between complex and simple carbohydrates?

Both types of carbohydrates form glucose when we digest them and are transported around our bodies via our blood stream. These are then absorbed into our cells and converted into energy.

Without boring you with too much detail, our pancreas glands in our abdomen, stores the hormone insulin, which controls the uptake of glucose by our cells. When you have too much glucose, your body converts this into glycogen, which is stored in the liver or in fat around the body, this causes us to gain weight!

As you have read it is important that you get the right balance of carbohydrate in your body on a daily basis however it is important that you don’t consume too much of the starchy carbohydrate. This becomes hard when our bodies are craving it! However there are supplements on the market that can reduce these cravings, one of these supplements is 5-HTP. By taking a supplement that contains5-HTP you will not only find that your cravings are reduced but that you also don’t feel as hungry and you have a smaller appetite, resulting in weight loss. In addition to helping you