Business Bytes: 6 eating habits to improve productivity

It’s not just what you eat that affects your productivity at work, when and how you choose to eat certain foods can alter your ability to work. 

1. Ditch the junk food

Though snacking on junk food throughout your workday might boost your mood at first, eating foods that are high in trans and saturated fats will make you feel sluggish.

Meanwhile sugary treats will give you a quick energy high, followed by a crash. These fatty snacks may be easy to transport and consume on the go, but you are much better off eating nutritious foods if you want to stay focused.

2. Watch your caffeine intake

Just like the unhealthy snacks, caffeine can be harmful in large doses. To stay productive all day, it’s better to consume small amounts of caffeine – green tea is great for this.

3.  Eat small regular meals


Eating small, frequent meals is a good way to keep your blood glucose levels constant, which helps to maintain energy. If you eat infrequently, your body’s blood sugar levels dip excessively low in between meals.

By eating smaller and more frequent meals, you space out your body’s fuel supply more evenly, keeping you energised for longer.

4. Don’t eat tryptophan on an empty stomach

Tryptophan is found in turkey and other poultry and can cause sleepiness when ingested on an empty stomach. For this reason, foods high in tryptophan should be avoided when you haven’t had anything to eat in a while.

5. Do eat fruit on an empty stomach


For long-lasting productivity, eat fruit in the morning or to snack on when you’re hungry. It contains fiber and complex sugars, which breakdown slower than simple sugars. Fruit is also easily digested by the body, allowing you to skip the fatigue associated with hard-to-digest snacks or large portion sizes.

When you haven’t had anything to eat in a while, it’s best to reach for a bit of fruit instead of dairy or poultry so your body gets off to the right start.

6. Keep hydrated


Dehydration causes your blood to thicken, making it difficult for your heart to pump which will drain your energy. Not only does drinking plenty of water help your body to stay healthy, keeping hydrated aids the transport of energy-providing nutrients through the body. 

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