If you’re plagued by fatigue caused by your Multiple Sclerosis, these 7 superfoods will get you snacking your way to energized. The following super-snacks are rich in protein and fiber to boost your energy, and some come with powerful antioxidants that will reduce your symptoms and keep you feeling great throughout your work day. Take a look at my favorite superfoods to fight fatigue and add your favorites to your next grocery list.
Chia Seeds
The ancient Aztecs and Mayans used chia seeds to improve their athletic performance, and today you can do the same! One tablespoon of chia seeds in your morning smoothie will help you power through your day.
With over 5 grams of protein and fiber to give you strength, and the healthy helping of omega-3s to reduce inflammation, you’ll notice an increase in your energy and a decrease in your symptoms. Additionally, chia seeds are packed with quercetin, an antioxidant to boost muscles and help speed up recovery.
Sweet Potatoes
Everyone’s favorite potato is proven to reduce MS fatigue with its rich beta-carotene content. The beta-carotenes are what make the potato orange, but this powerful antioxidant works to clear your body of the unwanted toxins that can slow you down and give you that groggy feeling.
On top of that, sweet potatoes have 25% of your daily dose of potassium, a powerful electrolyte that keeps you energized, hydrated, and toxin-free.
Try my MS-friendly Baked Sweet Potatoes with Ginger and Honey recipe for a delicious side dish!
Beans
Black beans, white beans, chili beans, fava beans – whatever your favorite bean, you can bet that one serving is jam-packed with fiber. The fiber found in one cup of beans extends the energy your body gets from carbohydrates, helping to maintain your energy at a healthy level throughout the day.
Eating beans will give you one-third of your daily serving of magnesium, a mineral that helps your body restore energy.
Nuts
Just like beans, nuts are packed full of fiber with a little extra protein as a bonus. Because of these natural energy boosters, nuts are a great snack for the mid-afternoon slump and you can also treat yourself after a workout.
Nuts contain electrolytes (like potassium and sodium to be exact), which is a great boost after exercise that restores your energy and helps clear out toxins.
Spinach
Supergreens like spinach are the best superfoods for fighting MS fatigue. They are chock full of iron, fiber, and protein to boost your energy. And with over 13 vitamins and minerals in their green leaves, spinach fights inflammation and reduces the toxins in your body that can make symptoms worse.
Spinach is extremely beneficial for your adrenal gland, the one in charge of controlling stress, helping you reduce anxiety and boost your energy in a healthy way.
Try my Spinach and Avocado Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette recipe for a healthy energy boost!
Salmon
For dinner this week, try cooking with a nice cut of salmon. Salmon is rich in omega-3s, which reduce inflammation and increase energy, making it a win-win dinner combination for patients with Multiple Sclerosis.
They also contain 20% of your daily portion of protein, which works to boost your energy levels and maintain it throughout the day, and their Vitamin D content will regulate your immune system and decrease your symptom outbreaks.
Want some tried and tested salmon recipes? Try these:
Tea
As a great substitute for caffeine and coffee, green or black teas can boost your energy with amino acids like theanine instead. Theanine is proven to improve alertness and attention, making this a great superfood not only for energy but also for cognition.
If you experience a mental fogginess along with your fatigue, brew yourself a hot cup of tea and take the time to sip on it for a moment. I like to drink yerba mate, because it not only helps keep me awake but also helps reduce my overall MS symptoms. Let yourself relax in order to reduce your stress, which also contributes to fatigue, before you head back to your busy day.
What do you eat to keep your energy up?
Remember, dehydration can be contributing to your grogginess. On top of snacking on these superfoods to reduce your MS fatigue, make sure to drink a lot of water in order to stay hydrated. Stay away from sports and energy drinks as the caffeine and sugar combinations in there will only make you feel worse. Eating healthy is key to reducing your fatigue and your symptoms, and these superfoods will get you well on your way toward a healthy diet.