No, not the Pringles
It’s 4 pm, that time of day when the siren call of caffeine starts ringing in your ears as loudly as your mother’s morning aarti. When your upper eyelid and lower eyelid launch into a torrid love affair. Your brain demands a nap while your hands reach out for the rush of caffeine or that emergency stash of Ferrero Rocher you keep hidden under your desk. Let us stop you right there — coffee may give you a quick boost but you’ll crash fast, leaving you faceplanting on the keyboard.
Dr Nidhika Bahl, integrative nutritionist and preventive healthcare specialist, explains that this happens due to a dip in blood glucose levels, which the brain and body need to make energy. “Without that energy, you feel fatigued and have a tough time staying focused. Your attention drifts,” she says.
This also happens because late in the afternoon, your levels of cortisol naturally start to dip and you start feeling sluggish and exhausted, adds Ruchi Sharma, the founder of Eat Fit Repeat.
Are healthy snacks the right way to fix this slump in productivity?
You must never let your blood sugar bottom out as low blood sugar levels can affect your productivity negatively. This is where healthy snacks come in, according to dietician Mac Singh, who is also the co-founder of Fitelo.
“Our energy levels throughout the day depend upon our hormone levels, such as glucocorticoids, melatonin, leptin, and more. Our sleeping and eating habits impact these hormones,” he says.
Adding that our caffeine intake must be limited at this time, he explains, “Excessive caffeine often results in constipation while further dehydrating your body and building the toxin levels, leaving your body in a loop of caffeine fatigue.”
To get a lift of energy that lasts, Bahl suggests choosing healthy snacks with complex carbohydrates, healthy fats, and protein. “They will take longer to digest, satisfy your hunger, and provide a slow, steady stream of energy.”
Here’s our expert-approved guide to energy-boosting healthy snacks that will wage war against the exhaustion overtaking your brain.
