eNewsletter - September 2009

Choosing the right foods to eat and snack on can help you maintain your energy throughout the day.

Two types of food will help you fight fatigue:

Foods high in generally unrefined carbohydrates. When carbs have not been refined, that means that dietary fiber is intact. Examples of these energy-sustaining foods include:
- Oatmeal
- Oat bran
- Barley
- Blueberries
- Bananas
- Oranges
- Legumes (beans, lentils, split peas)
- Whole grain bread, pita bread, tortillas
- Sweet potatoes
- Brown or wild rice
- Bell peppers
- Broccoli
- Asparagus
- Dark leafy greens (spinach, kale, collard greens)
Fatigue-fighting foods rich in protein. A bit of lean protein added to your carbohydrate selection will further enhance your energy. Examples of these energy-sustaining foods include:
- Eggs
- Low-fat milk
- Low-fat cheese, cottage cheese
- Reduced-fat yogurt
- Nuts and nut butters (almonds, walnuts, peanuts, pecans, soy nuts, all a great source of unsaturated fat)
- Legumes (beans, lentils, split peas)
- Fish (salmon, sardines, chunk light tuna)
- Chicken breast

By Melissa Ohlson, MS, RD, Cleveland Clinic registered dietitian

For more information, visit Cleveland Clinic's Center for Specialized Women's Health.