All over the world, people are looking for ways every day to get that extra burst of energy. And why not? Increasingly, life means maintaining a balance between life and work that leaves little time for rest or relaxation. We rush from one task to the next trying to check another item off the to-do list. Then, to fuel all the activities, many are willing to pay for artificial energy in the form of caffeinated sodas, Red Bull, and 5-hour energy shots. These sources, however, are full of sugar that causes short burst of energy followed by fatigue and sluggishness. Check out these astonishing pictures to see just how much sugar is in our drinks!

Fortunately, there are nutritious ways to get the energy boost you need to get through your day. Focusing on nutrition and diet might seem like another undertaking for which there just isn’t enough time in the day. In reality though, nutrition can work with your body to fuel everything else that we take on in our lives.

According to the website Web MD, different foods can boost energy through the calories they provide and also by allowing metabolism to work more efficiently. So what are some of these energy star foods?

1. Fiber: The fiber found in smart carbohydrates such as whole grains that are digested slowly and act as a steady source of energy. It is important to avoid sweet foods which actually lead to fatigue. Interested in incorporating more fiber into your diet? Check out the Whole Grains Council for tips on eating whole grains at every meal.

2. Nuts: Nuts are rich in protein, and they contain magnesium, which is an important mineral for converting sugar into energy.

3. Leafy Greens: Good examples are spinach, kale, and arugula. All of these contain vitamins C and A, which also help boost energy levels and contain folate which is proven to fight symptoms of depression.

4. Lean Meats: Chicken, turkey, and fish contain tyrosine an amino acid which fights fatigue throughout the day. They also have high amounts of iron and B-vitamins which strengthen muscles for long-term endurance.

5. Fresh Produce: Fruits and vegetables are great sources of the vitamins and minerals that increase metabolism efficiency. The fruit sugar glucose is turned into energy quickly providing a more immediate sense of alertness.

6. Dark Chocolate: Theobromine is a chemical compound found only in chocolate that is similar to caffeine, but provides a more stable energy boost. It lasts longer throughout the day, and won’t leave you with a crashed feeling afterwards.

Combining these elements can create a perfect snack for fueling a long day of work and other activities. NuGO Slim is great for an afternoon snack because it combines high protein, high fiber, and REAL dark chocolate that will keep you alert all day long.

For more energy-boosting tips and tricks, check out the rest of this article at Web MD.

A longtime fan of NuGo bars, which coincidentally I first came across while traveling, I was happy when they asked me to write a post for their blog – on, you guessed it – traveling as someone with both celiac disease and a severe food allergy to shellfish.

First of all, a celiac or food allergy diagnosis is initially overwhelming. I mean we have all been there and it does throw a bit of a wrench into your lifestyle until you get up to speed. There is a learning curve for the newly diagnosed but I am proof positive that it does get easier as time goes on.

Traveling can seem like a daunting challenge because not only do you have to deal with eating out in a new location that may be unfamiliar, but there’s also the getting there and back which depending on where you are going could prove to be a significant chunk of time. So, with Celiac Awareness Month upon us and the summer travel season about to kick in, I thought I would share a few tips and tricks that I have picked up as I have literally circumnavigated the globe as a celiac and food allergic traveler.

The most important tip that I can give is to plan before you go. This will help to alleviate unnecessary stress when you arrive at your destination. I like to go online and get a lay of the land if you will of where I will be visiting. I look for restaurants and grocery stores near where I’ll be staying that are gluten-free friendly. Be sure to also check out any local celiac or food allergy support groups that might have websites as they often provide a host of information at the local level. Trust me, having a lay of the land before you go will make your trip all the more smoother. When you arrive at your destination, talk to the hotel staff or concierge for local recommendations. You’d be surprised what great local tips they can provide and I have even run into a few that were fellow celiacs and had some fantastic recommendations for me.

Planning also involves looking at things like airlines and hotels as some do a better job in catering to travelers with dietary restrictions. If you are flying, go to the airline’s website or call them to find out if they offer a gluten-free (or other special meal type) before you book. This is a must on long-haul and ultra long-haul flights and less important on shorter domestic hops. At the hotel level, more and more hotels are catering to guests with dietary restrictions and a few even have formal programs in place to ensure that guests with special needs can dine without worry. Fairmont Hotels with their Lifestyle Cuisine Plus program does a particularly good job.

Packing is equally as important as planning in my book – and by packing I mean in the food/snack department. Tip number two is to always take along what I like to call a gluten-free contingency pack. This usually contains a range of food items that I can snack on if I am delayed, my gluten-free meal on a flight didn’t make it onboard or is not really to my liking, or I just feel like a treat while enroute to or at my destination. I typically include things like pretzels or chips, something sweet, and of course snack bars – guess which ones you’ll always find in my bag? The good thing about a contingency pack is that you can tailor it to your specific trip and make it more comprehensive for longer journeys and smaller for quick hops. I also like to throw some larger snacks or treats in my checked bag to enjoy at the hotel when I arrive at my destination. More often than not you’ll be able to find a host of great items at your destination but sometimes you might just feel like relaxing after a long journey and it’s nice to have something ready to nosh on.

The final tip that I can offer is to get out there and enjoy yourself. Do not let celiac or another food restriction limit your lifestyle. Will everything always go as planned – likely not. Even those of us that have been doing it for a while still have things go wrong from time to time but look at them as learning experiences. The more often you get out on the road, the more comfortable you’ll become traveling with special dietary needs and it will just become second nature.

About the Author:

Michael De Cicco-Butz

Hailing from New York City, Michael is perhaps best known as his gluten-free alter ego Gluten Free Mike a global advocate for celiac disease who pens a very popular eponymous gluten-free website and blog. He and his site have been featured on MSNBC.com and the TodayShow.com discussing luxury travel from a food allergic perspective. Michael has made it his personal mission to share his experiences on his gluten-free journey to help others navigate and make the most of their own journeys. Diagnosed with celiac disease more than ten years ago (and shortly thereafter developing severe shellfish allergy), when the gluten-free landscape was very different, he understands how confusing, overwhelming, and isolating it can be when first diagnosed.

He lives by his mantra of Living Well, Gluten-Free, No Apologies and does not let celiac or his food allergies limit where he goes or what he does. He has travelled the globe as a celiac taking full control of his food restrictions proving that by making smart choices and asking the right questions anyone can get out there and enjoy all the fabulous tastes and places our world has to offer — just gluten-free.

A foodie through and through, you’ll often find him dining out at both gluten-free and non-gluten-free restaurants and has created a Quintessentially New York Gluten Free dining guide on his site that follows him dining gluten-free at some of the most iconic restaurants in New York City. He also loves to cook and has adapted many of his favorite recipes to be gluten-free.

Read Mike’s blog, Gluten Free Mike, follow him on Twitter @glutenfreemike and Pinterest, and like his Facebook page.

This was our fourth year proudly participating in the Pittsburgh Marathon. We want to congratulate everyone who joined our teams and finished the race. You are all Runners of Steel! Thank you to everyone who helped with the event and donated money for the Children’s Alopecia Project (CAP). So far we have raised $2,615, and you can still make donations until the end of May.

This year we had the biggest running team yet. Team NuGo had 35 people running! David Levine, NuGo President, ran the full marathon. Alyssa Nard, NuGo Marketing Director, ran the half marathon.

We received some great emails about the NuGo Pace Team. Here are some of our favorite quotes.

“Yesterday I had the opportunity to be a part of the NUGO pace team in the Pittsburgh Marathon. Needless to say, it was a wonderful opportunity and time! I want to thank you for your company’s sponsorship of the pacing team. I received many hugs and thank you’s as we crossed the finish line yesterday. Your support of the running community is truly appreciated.” – Sean

“I just wanted to say that I was so super proud once again to be a part of this very special Pittsburgh NuGO Pace team, with the fabulous group of pacers that we had this year.” – Marie

Look at this video we made of the kids marathon on Saturday, May 4.

To see all of our photos from the expo and marathon, view our Facebook album.

We look forward to seeing everyone next year!

Do you have headaches, fatigue, joint pain, digestive problems, or any of these 300 symptoms? If so, you could be one of the millions of Americans undiagnosed with celiac disease. Celiac is an autoimmune disease in which eating gluten damages the lining of the small intestine, interfering with the absorption of nutrients from food.

If you suspect you have celiac disease, ask your physician to order the celiac panel blood test. It is very important to continue eating gluten until you have completed all testing for celiac disease. A 100% gluten-free diet is the only treatment for celiac disease.

Watch this celiac PSA.

May is National Celiac Awareness Month, which makes this a great month to share celiac blog posts. The National Foundation for Celiac Awareness (NFCA) has chosen KISS: Keep It Simple and Safe as the theme for Celiac Awareness Month.

Throughout this month, bloggers will be sharing many tips on a variety of gluten-free topics in 5 Ways to Keep It Simple and Safe. Visit the Gluten-Free RD, a blog by Rachel Begun, to read 31 Days of Celiac Awareness.

For more gluten-free resources, read our blog post, 10 Great Gluten-Free Resources. Happy Celiac Awareness Month!