5 Paleo Snacks to Fight Post-Lunch Drowsiness

Benefits of a paleo diet

If you’ve heard about this paleo diet thing via your friends in Crossfit, but still aren’t sure what it is, don’t worry, it’s not too late to ask! The philosophy of the paleo diet goes back to our origins as humans. Paleo promotes eating as our hunter-gatherer ancestors did in the Paleolithic Era, which means before agriculture and livestock were around, and certainly before processed sugars. Paleo diets are filled with lean proteins, fish, and some fruits, nuts, and seeds - but do not include sugar (or artificial sweeteners), grains, dairy, legumes, or beans. Paleo foods are nutrient-rich fare that fuel our bodies and make us feel full and energized. They’re clean and simple.

Considering all the food categories that are eliminated from this diet, it’s no surprise that weight loss is one of the primary benefits. However, make no mistake, it’s NOT calorie restrictive. Across sex and age, paleo nutrition has proven to aid in weight loss. Following this diet and pairing it with exercise may also improve HDL (good) cholesterol, reduce triglyceride levels, lower blood pressure, and lower total and LDL (bad) cholesterol overall. This promotes heart health while helping to prevent and lessen the severity of type 2 diabetes.

Best vitamins and supplements to boost your energy

Some of the food groups that the paleo diet “does without” are known to provide necessary nutrients like iron, zinc, and copper. For this reason, adding daily supplements to your nutrition can help you meet all your nutrient needs. Here are some of our favorite, energizing supplements to include in your daily routine and maximize mental clarity.

• Vitamin C:Vitamin C is a great all-around vitamin that can act as a quick pick-me-up!

• Vitamin D:Vitamin D deficiencies are extremely common, especially during the winter months or whenever you aren’t getting enough sun (hello pandemic). Vitamin D3 supplements can help relieve feelings of depression and fight off fatigue.
• Collagen:Collagen, a protein, is made of amino acids proline and glycine. Not only can the extra protein help you feel fuller and more satisfied from your meal, but it may also kick your metabolism into gear and raise energy levels. Collagen is hard to come by in any diet, so we recommend adding a high-quality, flavorless, collagen supplement to your favorite paleo recipes.

• Iron:Fatigue is a common side effect of iron deficiency. Since the paleo diet cuts out iron-heavy legumes and beans, a supplement may help you to feel more energized by rounding out your diet.

• Magnesium: Magnesium may boost the efficacy of the paleo diet and fight off mid-day drowsiness by helping you to get better sleep.

Best Energy-Boosting Paleo Recipes

• For when you can’t make it to lunch:Cinnamon & Raisin “Brunch’ Bars: This recipe is great for a mid-day (or 10 AM) brunch. They’re perfect to make ahead of time and have on hand when you don’t have time for breakfast, or your appetite is too big to wait for lunch. This recipe includes collagen to help you feel full, anti-inflammatory cinnamon, and iron-rich raisins!
• For when you want something fresh:Waldorf Chicken Salad: This chicken salad is reminiscent of summertime. Fresh air, a change of scenery, and a quick stretch will help to revamp your lunch break and make you feel energized and refreshed, even while working from home. You can also add a scoop of collagen to the dressing for more satisfaction and energy out of every bite.
• For when you need to meet a deadline:Chocolate Almond Energy Bites: If it’s crunch time and you can’t afford to spend a minute on post-lunch drowsiness, try these chocolate energy bites. They’re perfect to snack on as you work, contain iron-rich dates, magnesium-filled almonds, energizing collagen, and delicious chocolate.
• For when you need to meal-plan:Korean Beef Bowls: Similar to bibimbap, this colorful recipe is great to make ahead and hits every level of your paleo food pyramid. It’s packed with veggies like peppers to give you plenty of vitamin C, and the chicken broth can easily be swapped for collagen-rich, bone broth for an added jolt of energy.
• For when you have a sweet tooth:Shortbread Energy Balls: Are those birthday cupcakes taunting you? Need something sweet that won’t blow your diet? We’ve got the trick! These shortbread energy balls are filling, naturally sweet, and a breeze to make. They’re satisfying enough to have just one, so you never glance at those cupcakes again! Plus, they leave you feeling energized enough to make it to dinner.

Article References:

1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4216932/
2. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/paleo-diet-review#downsides
3. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/10-foods-high-in-magnesium#TOC_TITLE_HDR_11