It’s easy to find yourself reaching for the high sugar energy drinks when working out, particularly when doing cardio exercise involving long-distance running. With events such as the London Marathon drawing closer, there’s never been a better time to look at some more natural alternatives. Energy drinks’ initial burst of energy may seem great, but to prevent blood sugar levels from dropping mid-workout, why not try these more natural sources of energy below?
Bananas
Energy per 100g: 375kJ/88Kcal – Energy Rating: 5/5
Bananas include three different kinds of sugar – fructose, glucose and sucrose. Whilst fructose and glucose deliver speedy energy, sucrose releases energy steadily, ensuring you don’t suffer a sugar-induced crash.
Mangoes
Energy per 100g: 255kJ/60Kcal – Energy Rating: 4/5
As well as being an enjoyable sweet treat full of minerals and antioxidants, mangoes contain an array of energy boosting B vitamins including B1, B2, B5, B6, niacin and folate. Even more reason to pop them in your basket!
Tomatoes
Energy per 100g: 48kJ/11Kcal – Energy Rating: 3/5
Tomatoes are packed full of the ‘energy vitamin’ Biotin, which helps to maintain your energy levels throughout the day, preventing sudden peaks and drops of energy. The good thing about tomatoes is that they can be enjoyed in many forms – as juices, dressings or mixed into a simple salad for a quick and easy energy fix.
Beetroot
Energy per 100g: 117kJ/28Kcal – Energy Rating: 4/5
Beetroot juice has been proven to increase stamina and overall physical performance – a study undertaken by the University of Exeter found that when subjects drank 500ml of Beetroot juice for 6 days, they were able to cycle 92 seconds longer than before they were prior to drinking the juice!*
Apples
Energy per 100g: 207kJ/49Kcal- Energy Rating: 3/5
A staple in our fruit bowls as well as our diet, the energy we gain from apples is said to hang around longer than other fruits, so they’re a handy snack to take with you to increase the amount of time you work out.
So, next time you’re off to the gym or park for a bit of exercise, instead of grabbing the usual energy drink, why not try including one or more of the above fruit and vegetables into your diet? For a quick and easy way, V8 Original vegetable juice provides all the energy-retaining benefits of tomatoes, whilst our V-Fusion juices incorporate Mango and Beetroot in our Passion Fruit, Mango & Carrot and Raspberry & Beetroot flavours. Give it a go and see the results for yourself.
Sources
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