Ditch the Sugar & Caffeine – Simple Strategies for Better Business Results

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How many times have you found yourself working late at the office, feeling stressed by the pressure of trying to make a deadline, when you realize you’re famished and have nothing healthy to eat? What do you do? If you’re like most people, you probably hit the vending machines or make a run to the closest fast food restaurant for something you can quickly eat while working. It may taste good, but is it really good for you?

Or think about those afternoons when you’re so drowsy that you’re tempted to take a nap at your desk. Seems like the only thing that gets you through is a trip to Starbucks or Dunkin’ Donuts for a “pick me up” laced with sugar and caffeine.

Seriously, how does that really make you feel? Can you concentrate better? Does it give you the lasting energy and focus you need? Truth be told, what we eat and how we take care ourselves impacts our business success.

Sugar and caffeine only provide a temporary boost in our energy. Although it may taste good going down, sugar is a simple carbohydrate that breaks down in our system quickly. While it does give us a boost, it’s short-lived. Pretty much the same idea with caffeine — in the short term it may seem helpful, but large doses of caffeine can wreak havoc on our system: it strains the adrenal glands, increases cortisol, the stress hormone, and can lead to anxiety and insomnia, among other things. In essence, these are short-term “fixes” but aren’t the means to the long term success that most of us crave.

But Imagine if you had boundless amounts of energy to fuel your day and keep you focused on what’s most important at work. Imagine if you could negotiate your day without large doses of caffeine and sugar to keep you wired. And imagine if you could increase your productivity and effectiveness and reduce your stress, all without having to work longer hours. In essence, you could feel great, get your work done and have less stress, all at the same time.

In fact, you can easily create improved business performance by making small and simple changes to your diet and lifestyle. Though a much used cliché, “you are what you eat,” says volumes about how most of us live today. Given a fast paced, pressure-driven life, most of us reach for foods that are quick, easy and within arm’s reach. Trouble is, these things are usually highly processed, high in fat and calories and lacking in nutritional value. The result is that we stuff ourselves with foods that give us fleeting energy and extra calories, adding pounds to the waistline, which inevitably impedes our success.

Want to know the secret to creating lasting energy, more focus and better business results? Make a few simple changes and I guarantee, you’ll feel better and perform more effectively.

Here are a few tips to get you started:

1. Eat more vegetables and fruit!

Fruit and veggies provide our bodies with essential nutrients we need to stay healthy, prevent disease, increase energy, improve circulation, and reduce congestion, just to name a few. Dark green leafy vegetables are true winners providing copious amounts of Vitamins A, C, E and K as well as folic acid, iron and tons of calcium. Try spinach, kale, collards or Swiss Chard, among others.

2. Eat complex carbohydrates.

Brown rice, quinoa, millet, wild rice and buckwheat are full of nutrients our body needs and are complex carbohydrates that give us lasting energy. Other complex carbohydrates include veggies, beans and legumes. Increase the portions of complex carbs to your diet and you’ll increase your energy.

3. Drink more water.

Do you know that as many as 75% of Americans are in a chronic state of dehydration? Ditch your soda that’s full of caffeine, sugar and calories for water. 6-8 glasses per day is the norm. Water supports many important bodily functions and increases your energy.

Making small changes over time is the simplest, most direct route to increasing your energy and focus and producing your best work. What can you do today to feel great and improve results tomorrow? As a start, give these suggestions a try and get on the road to better health and increased business success.