Foods to keep you productive

Think about a car: what does it need in order to function correctly?

It needs some kind of fuel. Without this, a car will not go anywhere!

You and I are the same. On a literal level, if we don’t fuel ourselves with a regular intake of food and drink, we’ll have no energy and won’t be able to function.

But it’s important not just to consume anything and everything. If you’re spending your days eating chocolate and sweets, you might get an immediate sugar rush, but it is not a great way to help with those 3pm cravings.

Having a balanced diet is essential. Which begs the question, what is the best food to help you stay productive?

Let’s have a look at some real favourites, starting off with one of the best brain foods around:

Nuts.

Everyone talks about how beneficial it is to have a handful of nuts. But why? Well, they contain a great deal of magnesium, which is an extremely important mineral that helps battle fatigue.

Pop down to your local supermarket and see what is on offer. Walnuts, almonds, hazelnuts, cashews, pecans and brazil - all of these are a perfect snack, particularly in the afternoon when you’re feeling a bit tired.

Avocados.

This is still one of the trendiest foods on the planet right now - especially on some sourdough bread over brunch. But there is a good reason for their massive popularity. An avocado contains healthy fats and can even help improve your mood. Pretty useful on a dreary, cold Monday morning.

Another interesting fact about avocados is that they actually contain more potassium than a banana, which is known to help reduce blood pressure.

Dark chocolate.

How do you combat those sweet cravings? Fear not. Dark chocolate could be the perfect cure.

It’s packed with antioxidants and has a number of different benefits, including helping you to stay productive.

As with nuts, dark chocolate also contains magnesium and even a small amount of caffeine to help give you a boost.

Take a couple of squares in the afternoon, perfect if your starting to lag a bit. To get the most out of it, it is probably a good idea to choose a product with at least 70% cocoa.

Bananas.

Just one banana gives you the daily amount of glucose that your body needs to give you energy.

A banana is also very filling, which makes it a great snack to have in between meals. So if you do feel like something to satisfy your appetite before lunch, then this is just what you need.

Eggs.

According to Inc.com, eggs can help boost memory function and even speed up reaction times - very handy if you’re looking for foods to help you stay productive throughout the day.

They’re easy to snack one (as long as you cook them at home first!), or stick one in your salad for an extra boost.

Brown rice.

This is another excellent productivity booster that is perfect to keep you switched on. It’s high in magnesium (a bit of a theme here), and as it’s also a carbohydrate it contains glucose, which helps fuel your brain.

But that’s not all. It also contains a high content of fibre. This means you won’t get a quick surge of energy followed by a rapid crash.

David Goulden

Copywriter