Anne Orchard

Cancer Support - Combating Fatigue by Eating Well

How About An Energy Boost? Learn which foods produce energy, and which to avoid.

        One day when I was feeling tired, I reached for a fresh orange.  I had not eaten any fresh fruit in a long while. Immediately upon eating that orange, I felt a surge of energy.  Wow, I thought, food really affects my energy level.  Later, I happened to be chatting with a man who wanted to recruit me for marketing a certain kind of berry that was supposed to make you super energetic.  I thought to myself, that berry juice is expensive and the orange I just ate has the same fantastic qualities.  I wondered, do people need to pay a lot for a product to believe in its amazing healthful effects?  Simply eating fresh fruits and vegetables will recharge your batteries as well as or better than many “magical cure” food products.

            The foods you eat are very important for combating fatigue, especially with the added demands on your time and energy related to cancer in the family.  When you feel like you can’t possibly do one more errand or talk to one more doctor, energy foods will give your body and mind a boost, and even make you feel optimistic.

            Certain foods are naturally energy producing, while others diminish vigor and alertness.  Think about what you have eaten in the past 24 hours—leftovers, fast-food, highly processed foods….these all lack freshness and will zap your vitality. Here are a few tips for eating for energy:

§        Once food is cooked, eat it within 4-5 hours

§        Avoid reheated foods if possible

§        Although frozen foods should usually be avoided, vegetables that have been frozen raw have more energy than reheated vegetables

§        Energizing foods include, but are not limited to—whole milk, clarified butter, wheat products (bread, pasta), rice, barley, honey, raisins, dates, figs, almonds, olive oil, fresh veggies & fruit; particularly fresh squeezed juices (carrot and beet juice are outstanding )

§        Energy depleting foods include: beef, pork, veal, fermented foods, aged or sour cheeses, pickled or smoked foods, onions, garlic, mushrooms, potatoes and other root vegetables (except beets and carrots), refined sugar, alcohol, coffee

            The foods noted as energy depleting are not bad, some are very healthful, but you should avoid them when you need an energy boost. Others, such as refined sugar, are best avoided altogether.  If some of these depleting foods are your favorites, try eating less of them each day, and note the difference in how you are feeling.  It is not reasonable to expect you to change life long habits while dealing with your loved one’s cancer—but make some gradual changes…Even if you consume some energy depleting foods today, you could still add one energizing food, and that is a great start.  

            These days, when many are living on smaller budgets, it’s nice to know that “miracle foods” are not exotic or expensive—they are in your corner grocery store.  One dollar or less will buy you a bundle of energy—a sweet, juicy orange or apple.

Article Tags: Energy Depleting, Depleting Foods

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