One of the reasons many people fail to shed pounds is their addiction to sugar. It comes in many forms, but one of the more obvious ones are those candy bars and snacks to give a mid-morning or mid-afternoon physical and mental boost. You can get the same results other ways and can boost your energy without sugar, but it may take some time.

You’ll crave sugar at first, not just as an energy booster.

Sugar is extremely addictive! In fact, it triggers a reaction in the brain just like heroin does. Dopamine is the cause. It’s the feel good hormone and there are dopamine receptors everywhere in the brain. When you do drugs like heroin, it triggers a waterfall of dopamine and makes you feel good. So does sugar. Although, sugar doesn’t give nearly the boost as heroin. It also raises blood sugar levels that give you a burst of energy, but what goes up must come down and it does that with a vengeance. The sugar low causes even more cravings for sugar.

Eat some bananas for a quick fix.

Bananas do have sugar, but they also have other nutrients to boost your energy level. A banana contains carbohydrates, vitamin B6 and potassium that can give you the energy boost you need. In fact, skip the energy drink before a grueling athletic endurance event and eat a banana. It’s just as effective. While processed sugar can bring on cravings, natural sugar isn’t nearly as bad. Consider a few grapes, apple slices or berries. They provide fiber to fill you up, but also sugar that is released slower, due to the fiber, so you don’t have the spike and drop in blood sugar.

Grab a cold glass of water.

Believe it or not, sometimes a glass of water will wake you up better than a mug of coffee or a candy bar. That’s because it hydrates your system and gets it running at peak performance. You need adequate water to function well, since most of your body weight is water and it’s essential for all the functions of life. If you’re even mildly dehydrated it can slow your body functions, leaving you feeling tired. The next time you’re tired, try a cold glass or bottle of water, even if you’re not thirsty. You’ll be amazed at the results.

• A cup of coffee also can provide a boost to your energy level and make you feel more awake. It’s normally what most people think of when they need a picker upper. Green tea also can have the same effect.
• Get moving. I’ve always recommended some type of moving around after 55 minutes of sitting. Whether it’s going up and down stairs, doing jumping jacks next to your desk or simply walking, excise and moving is a quicker picker-upper.
• A small amount of dark chocolate can improve functioning in the brain and boost blood flow. It also has caffeine that boosts your energy level.
• Grab a cup of unsweetened yogurt and throw in some berries for more flavor. The protein slows the absorption of the simple sugars in the yogurt, while it also provides extra nutrition to provide good health.