The Afternoon Slump

We all get that afternoon slump at 3:00pm, which can stem from the carbohydrate based lunch you have had, so what do you reach for… the chocolate bar or 'Diet Coke' to save the day, which studies have shown create havoc in the body and gut.

So many of us are under the misconception that the chocolate bar, biscuit's or bread based product's are the food's that give you ‘energy’ you need to get you through the day, when in fact it can actually be those foods that are creating the problem to begin with.

The reason we normally get the slump is due to our sugar levels dropping. When we have too many simple ‘quick’ carbohydrates this tend's to happen as our blood sugar's spike and then drop. Whereas when you eat complex carbohydrates that slowly release within the body your blood sugar's stay at a more consistent level.

What are these foods that can help support your sugar levels and avoid that lethargic feeling we all get? If you want to avoid snacking all together in the afternoon then I recommend trying to put food into your diet such as sweet potato, brown rice, quinoa and legumes. Generally taking a more whole based approach to your diet has been proven to sustain blood sugars over a longer period of time.

My top snack's are nuts, olives and avocado which are all great sources of ‘good fats’ and keep you away from the biscuit’s and crisp's in the afternoon. They must all be eaten in moderation, for example a handful of nuts (30grams), 8-10 olives, or a quarter of an avocado for a snack (half an avocado if this is your only portion for the day). It has been suggested eating them in excess can make you gain weight long term if you do not regularly exercise. The reason they are ‘good fats’ which your cells and gut love is because they help with cell growth and help you digest other vitamins that the body needs to stay healthy.

If you are on the go all the time, like a lot of us are, I would highly recommend the ‘Kind’ bar brand. They are nut bar's with fantastic flavours, that are so yummy, but good for you and you feel like you are having something naughty without the guilt! My personal favourite flavour is ‘Dark Chocolate, Nuts and Sea Salt’. To see other flavour's please click on their website link: https://www.kindsnacks.co.uk

‘Eat Real Snacks’ brand is another favourite snack of mine, which you can read more about in my previous blog: https://www.gutchat.co.uk/post/eat-real-snacks

If you have not tried any of these snack's or snack brand's then please sign up for an account to Gut Chat so you can comment below and let me know what your thoughts are on these products. I would love to hear your feedback!

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