Do you feel your energy waning after a few hours at work? Your choice of breakfast and lunch foods could be the reason.
One study reports that most people have a natural lull in energy at 2 a.m. and 2 p.m., but this lull can be intensified by certain foods. In addition, the same foods could be increasing your inflammation and causing chronic aches and pains. However, learning which foods to avoid can help you figure out how to stay more active at work and reduce inflammation and pain.
Foods to avoid if you want to stay active at work
There are numerous foods and drinks that you should actively avoid if you’re suffering from pain caused by inflammation. Many of these foods can also block you from staying active at work. Some of the foods you should avoid include:
- Caffeinated beverages — Coffee and soda rank at the top of this list due to the effect they can have on your body. Specifically, caffeinated drinks can alter your body’s pH balance, resulting in an increase in acidity and inflammation. Such drinks can also lead to a steep drop in energy a few hours later.
- Sugar and artificial sweeteners — Sugar causes your body’s insulin levels to spike and thus makes you even more sensitive to pain. This spike also leads to increased feelings of tiredness. Artificial sweeteners, like aspartame, can have similar effects on the body.
- Nightshade vegetables — This is another type of food worth avoiding if you face pain caused by inflammation. Unfortunately, these vegetables are known to increase the inflammatory response in a person’s body, which can also reduce your ability to stay active. Some examples of nightshade vegetables include eggplant, tomatoes, and potatoes.
Need to figure out how to stay more active at work? Panther Physical Therapy can help
Avoiding certain foods isn’t the only thing that can help you stay active at work. Our team at Panther Physical Therapy can help you fight chronic inflammatory issues that can reduce your work drive and energy. We can perform a free screening that can pinpoint the root cause of your inflammation. Our team can then construct an individualized therapy plan designed to treat the source of your inflammation and improve your energy levels.
In addition to in-clinic physical therapy, we are currently offering at-home therapy and virtual care appointments that let you get therapy without leaving your home. Even better, you can start using any of our therapy services without going through the hassle of getting a doctor’s referral.
Contact us today for more information about how we can help you treat chronic inflammation and pain or to schedule an initial appointment.
Tags: Chronic headaches, Chronic neck pain, Nutrition, Physical Therapist, Physical Therapy