Eat This For Breakfast To Enhance Energy & Cut Cravings, Says An MD

No matter where you fall, there’s no harm in adding some dopamine-rich foods to your plate. On the mindbodygreen podcast, integrative medicine doctor Amy Shah, M.D., author of I'm So Effing Hungry explains how to do just that and why it works to cut cravings and boost energy—here’s a quick overview. 

What are dopamine-rich foods, you ask? They're essentially foods high in protein—yogurt, eggs, nuts and seeds, etc. "Naturally high-protein foods are the dopamine-rich foods, because they contain an amino acid called tyrosine, which converts into dopamine in the brain, and it's a great way to start your day," says Shah.

“In the morning, you want to break your fast with dopamine-rich foods because you want that motivation, you want that drive, you want that energy," adds Shah. "Dopamine is closely related to norepinephrine1, which gives you that adrenaline boost in the morning." Protein-packed breakfasts also help you stay full2, so you're less likely to engage in compulsive snacking throughout the day.

Here’s a quick list of some ingredients you may want to experiment with: 

Now, for some quick and easy high-protein breakfast recipes: 

Ingredients:

Ingredients:

Ingredients: 

The next time you go to make your favorite breakfast, be sure to add some protein-rich (and thus dopamine-rich) foods to your plate. This way, you’ll be able to enhance your energy for the day and limit unwanted cravings. Bon appétit!