Afternoon Energy Boosters

If you are like most people, you sometimes suffer from an afternoon energy slump that leaves you wishing for a siesta. Many people turn to foods full of sugar or caffeine for a quick energy boost, but those are short-term fixes that leave you worse off in the long run. Luckily there are some healthy alternatives.

Spices like ginger, red cayenne pepper and peppermint can raise your metabolism and give you a natural, healthy lift. You can find ginger and peppermint in herbal teas, chewing gums or hard candies. You can also add these spices to your afternoon snack--try adding red pepper to your cottage cheese or hummus (to eat with veggies) and sprinkle ginger on your apple slices. It works!