Friday, October 11, 2019

Energy Balance

Our diet affects our ability to cope, manage stress, work with others, and have better mood and mental focus

By David Prentice, National Representative

“Hey Dave, you look hangry!”

For years, I struggled with low energy. Some said I was hypoglycemic, which means I did not have enough blood sugar for the energy I needed. This was a constant problem, especially in meetings that went beyond normal breaks. I’d sit there desperately waiting for someone to decide when we should take a break so I could head for my stash of sandwiches, chips, and cookies. It seemed like others had the ability to go all day without eating. Me, I needed breakfast, a mid-morning snack, lunch and a cookie in the afternoon, and supper.

Now, I definitely do not pretend to be an expert on diets or nutrition and make no claims about that here. This is more about my experience and what I found helpful for me. About four years ago, I came across a way of eating called Whole-Foods, Plant-based. This is eating plant food: vegetables and legumes, as well as starches like rice, pasta, bread, and potatoes, but no meat or dairy and very little oil or fat. Some would call this a vegan or vegetarian diet. I lost some weight and felt healthy, and was able to run well and recover fast.

However, I never felt that I was ever completely satiated and still ate lots of corn chips, cookies, and cake. But it seemed better than the regular standard North American diet and it lowered my blood pressure and improved my energy balance. I was able to endure the occasional long meeting—especially negotiations where you can often go all day and well into the evening without frequent or regular mealtime breaks.

Recently, I came across the ketogenic (“keto”) diet (low carb, high fat) and did lots of research before eventually moving over to that way of eating. Everyone knows dieting and diets are complicated, and not everyone is the same or responds to foods in the same way. But keto has worked for me. Although it can be a complicated way of fueling your body, I’m seldom hungry and often skip breakfast, I have lots of energy and high stamina in exercise, and I can last with the best of them in negotiations without snacking on muffins, donuts, or soft drinks.

Everyone has their preference for how they fuel their body for optimum energy balance throughout the day. Some are fine with whatever style of eating they grew up with. For others, it’s the Paleo, Mediterranean, or intermittent fasting diets that satisfy them. One thing is for sure: we are at our best when we don’t feel hungry and our energy is in balance, when we’re not zooming on too much sugar or crashing on a low, craving a lift from a chocolate chip cookie or another coffee.

Because we spend a significant portion of our waking hours at work, I find it is so important to be healthy and have good, stable energy whatever diet you choose. This affects our ability to cope, manage stress, work with others, and generally leads to better mood and mental focus. We are also better able to be present to our colleagues and our loved ones. Some even claim that better energy balance improves our mental health as well.

There is lots of information out there on nutrition and it takes some time to sift through competing approaches. I find it best to read lots, check out YouTube videos, and speak to trusted family and friends. If you are looking to change how you fuel your body, take your time, experiment a little, and review your progress to see how you feel throughout the day—especially at work, when you have to be your sharpest.

Whatever your reason to feel better throughout the day and have more stable energy balance, it is worth the investment, research, and experimentation to find out if you are operating at your best—for your own personal well-being and for the benefit of your colleagues.

If you need assistance finding out more about diet and energy balance, and you are covered under a CLAC Health & Welfare Trust Fund benefits plan, you can get nutritional support through the Morneau Shepell Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP). Call 1-844-880-9142 or visit workhealthlife.com any time to connect with a professional.

I don’t know how long I’ll stay with my latest body-fuelling strategy using the keto method, but for now, it’s my answer to hangry Dave.

Energy Balance

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