Why Raw Energy Is Best
Whether you’re a professional athlete or a weekend warrior, how you choose to fuel your body is critical for your physical and mental wellbeing.
While it can be easy to opt for popular, unhealthy energy sources, what your body really needs are natural, plant-based nutrients that give you the drive to push through any challenge that lies ahead.
For many people, however, this is easier said than done. It can be so simple to start the day with an over-caffeinated energy drink, a sugar-fueled “health” bar or an unhealthy breakfast -- especially on those days when you’re not feeling your best.
At ATAQ, we understand and appreciate this challenge, so we dedicate ourselves to helping you find reliable and delicious sources of the natural energy you need to be your best self and live your best life.
To help you accomplish this, we present this Guide To Raw Energy to give you the information and inspiration you need to energize your body, heighten your performance and change your life for the better:
What is Raw Energy?
Put simply, raw energy fuels your body with healthy, sustainable ingredients that offer you the nutrients you need to be at your best.
A lifestyle fueled by raw energy focuses on supplying and maintaining the energy levels you need for ultimate performance.
This focus is two-pronged, as it requires you to emphasize real foods and natural ingredients that aid your body in the long-term, rather than “quick fix” snacks and sweets that offer short-term benefits instead of sustained performance.
While this might sound complicated or intimidating, it’s truly a simple concept: simplify your diet with natural, reliable fuels and the rest takes care of itself.
What Are Healthy Sources of Raw Energy?
As you transition to a raw energy diet, you need to know what foods to include and which ones to avoid.
At a basic level, our body needs three nutrients for fuel: carbohydrates, proteins and fats.
While these nutrients are available in a plethora of grocery store foods, the quality and amount can vary greatly.
In order to properly fuel your body, you need to zero in on healthy, reliable sources that minimize unhealthy additives and support your immune system and physical function:
Carbohydrates
Carbs are responsible for turning glucose into energy. They are the most important source of energy for our body.
Healthy options include:
- Fruits
- Vegetables
- Grains
Unhealthy options to avoid:
- White bread
- Baked goods (cookies, muffins, cakes)
- Cereals and other sweet treats
Proteins
Proteins help increase muscular strength and capability while also optimizing vital bodily functions.
Healthy options include:
- ATAQ’s Plant-Based Protein Powder (chocolate, matcha or vanilla flavored)
- Nuts and Seeds
- Beans and Soybeans
Unhealthy options to avoid:
- Sugary protein bars and shakes
- Processed meat
- Low-quality protein supplements
Fats
While fats may get a bad rap in media and popular culture, they are an essential part of any successful diet -- when you consume healthy sources.
Healthy fats protect your organs, promote cell growth and further enhance your energy levels.
Healthy Options include:
- Nuts and Seeds
- Avocado
- Tofu
Unhealthy options to avoid:
- Packaged snack foods
- Fried foods
- High-fat dairy
What Can Raw Energy Do for You?
In addition to boosting your energy, it also provides numerous benefits to your mental, emotional and physical health.
If you consistently consume healthy nutrients and foods, two primary benefits are:
Enhanced Mood
One of the most critical connections in our body is that between our mind and our digestive system. In research, scientists often label this label relationship as the gut-brain axis.
According to sources like the Harvard Medical School and the National Institute of Health (NIH), the health and success of your microbiome (gut) can profoundly impact cognitive functions, such as the balancing of your mood.
When our diet is comprised of ultra-processed foods and reliant on sugars, starches and saturated fats, we negatively influence our gut -- the home of 90% of our serotonin receptors.
Serotonin plays a critical role in establishing a balanced mood, which dramatically affects our levels of happiness and feelings of well-being. When we feed our gut unhealthy sources of energy, we compromise our microbiome’s ability to successfully function and access our serotonin supply.
This negative relationship is responsible, in part, for the connection scientists find between people who have an unhealthy diet and higher levels of unhappiness and depression.
Conversely, healthy, raw energy sources have the opposite effect.
When we consume beneficial nutrients, supplements and foods, we give our microbiome the fuel it needs to properly function and supply our body with serotonin.
These benefits are so powerful that some studies from the NIH label raw energy sources like spinach, romaine, cauliflower, watermelon and others as “antidepressant foods” that can contribute to an enhanced mood.
Lengthened Peak Performance
All athletes seek sustained success in their physical activity, and raw energy can play an incredibly valuable role in this pursuit.
By fueling our body with the healthy sources of carbs, fats and proteins we discuss above, we give ourselves a better chance of:
- Avoiding injuries
- Increasing endurance
- Promoting recovery
In addition to proper hydration, these three benefits have massive implications on our performance as athletes, both in and out of the gym:
By avoiding injury, we help keep our body in tip-top shape, meaning we can enjoy our workouts without dealing with the physical pain that comes from diet and exercise-related ailments.
In increasing our endurance, we make it easier to push our physical limits in a sustainable way that allows us to reach our exercise goals -- such as losing weight or adding muscle.
Lastly, a diet fueled by raw energy can play an essential role in healthy recovery. Often an underrated aspect of our physical health, recovery is crucial in our body’s attempt to repair and strengthen itself.
It’s often said that the true effects of a great workout come in the hours/days/week after we leave the gym, and the proper foods and nutrients are an essential part of this process.
Does ATAQ Make Raw Energy Supplements?
Yes -- in fact, we think we have some of the best energy bars around!
Fueled by years of biochemical research and development, ATAQ’s Plant-Based Raw Energy Bars are engineered to give you all the critical nutrients you need and none of the unwanted additives you don’t need
Consisting of plant-based ingredients plus healthy carbs and fats, our bars are packed with concentrated and clinically tested Rosa Roxburghii and Ginseng extract -- two supplements that play a critical role in healthy, natural recovery.
Plus, they serve as a great snack before, during and after a workout! Easy to transport and store, our bars come in delicious flavors including:
- Banana Nut
- Blueberry Coconut
- Chocolate Walnut
- Mango Almond
- Variety Pack (all the above!)
In addition to proper hydration, a healthy fitness routine and a delicious, raw energy-infused mix of plant-based breakfasts, lunches and dinners, ATAQ Raw Energy Bars are the supplements you need to get the best from yourself!
For more information on ATAQ energy, healthy eating, exercise and more, check out our other posts!
Sources:
https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/gut-feelings-how-food-affects-your-mood-2018120715548
https://www.health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/eating-to-boost-energy
https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/energy-boosting-foods