Have you ever been told, "You need to take dietary supplements - no matter how healthy you eat."? Most people react to this suggestion with dismay. The thought of having to take supplements everyday can be discouraging; at least this is what I thought. That is until I understood the reason why. Like with anything, understanding the underlying mechanism behind something allows you to make informed decisions. That is why the more I learned about just how important nutritional supplements are for boosting natural energy and improving well-being, the easier it is to buy into idea of taking them.
Eight out of 10 Americans admit to low energy levels on a regular basis. Whether this comes from overexertion, poor diet, stress, or some combination of the above - many of us feel like we're walking around in a state of exhaustion. Boost your natural energy with these 10 tips.
1. Cut Back on Caffeine
One of the quickest ways to restore energy is to drink up. But forget that chronic caffeine fix. Caffeine can lead to a quick energy burst, but it usually results in restlessness and insomnia later. Caffeine also stresses the adrenal gland and can lead to other long term health complications. Instead drink water. Our bodies and brains are 70% water. So filling up on the minimum 8 glasses daily is like putting fuel in your gas tank. If you must go to caffeine for a pick-me-up, try green tea. It contains approximately 30-40mgs of caffeine per cup, roughly half the amount found in coffee. Green tea is also less acidic than coffee and it contains powerful antioxidants and amino acids that function as great natural energy boosters and improve vitality.
2. Exercise
Exercise is probably the best natural energy booster , outside of the foods we eat. If you're not doing some form of exercise 2-3 times a week, you're body cannot achieve optimal health. When it comes to exercise, intensity is almost always better than duration. I recommend studying how Mixed Martial Artists (Ultimate Fighters) train. They are usually on the cutting edge of results-oriented training and they don't get caught up in a lot of the appearance-based nonsense of bodybuilding.
I am a big fan of Ross Enamait and Jason Ferruggia. You can check out their products by simply Googleing their websites. They've also got a bunch of free videos on YouTube to check out. If you're over the age of 50, or suffering chronic pain that interferes with a normal exercise regimen, you will want to adjust your exercise routine accordingly. Always consult a qualified health care practitioner prior to beginning any new diet or exercise program.
3. Incorporate More Superfoods into Your Diet
Superfoods are the purest form of natural energy boosters. Superfoods are packed with vital nutrients, healthy fats and oils, antixodants, and various other energy boosting compounds that help us function at our best.
15 Superfoods for Energy: 1. Organic Tomatoes 2. Oats 3. Wild Salmon 4. Broccoli 5. Spinach 6. Blueberries 7. Pomegranate 8. Nuts (Almonds, Cashews, Walnuts) 9. Garlic 10. Red Wine 11. Green & White Tea 12. Bananas 13. Organic Red Apples with All Natural Peanut Butter 14. Hummus with Vegetables [Carrots, Peppers (Red, Yellow, Green), Tomatoes, Broccoli, Cauliflower] 15. Extra Virgin Olive Oil
4. Take an Energizing Herbal Supplement Daily
SociaTropin is one of the best herbal supplements for increasing natural energy levels without the use of potentially harmful central nervous system stimulants like caffeine and guarana. It has been scientifically-formulated with all natural mood enhancers, herbal supplements to relieve stress and social anxiety, and natural energy boosters to safely increase healthy levels of serotonin and dopamine in the brain.
5. Balanced Macronutrient Intake (Protein, Fats, and Carbs)
The single most influential factor on our natural energy levels is the foods we eat and drink. The process of self improvement begins with the foods and liquids we choose to put into our body. Without proper nutrition, it is impossible to reach our full potential, no matter how determined and driven we may be.
While eating right is a lifestyle change, this is not a "diet" by any means.
If you want to start living a healthier lifestyle but don't know where to start, pick up a copy of William Wolcott and Trish Fahey's book The Metabolic Typing Diet. This book contains some of the best information on eating right, maintaining a healthy body weight, and boosting natural energy.
The Metabolic Typing Diet illustrates that for hereditary reasons, our metabolism is unique. Cutting-edge research shows that no single diet works well for everyone - the very same foods that keep your best friend slim may keep you overweight and feeling unhealthy and fatigued. This revolutionary program allows us to identify our "metabolic type" and create a diet that suits our individual nutritional needs.
It may be a low-fat, high-carbohydrate diet filled with pasta and grains, or a high-fat, high-protein diet focused on meat and seafood, or anything in between. By detailing exactly which foods and food combinations are right for you, The Metabolic Typing Diet illustrates how you can shed unwanted pounds and achieve optimum vitality with lasting results.
6. Digestive Enzymes
Digestive enzymes break down proteins, fats, carbohydrates and fiber making it possible to benefit from the nutrients found in those foods. Enzymes turn the food we eat into energy and unlock this natural energy for use in the body.
Did you ever notice that children can eat a big meal and then go play, but adults who eat a big meal usually need a nap. By the time you hit forty you have lost most of your body's natural ability to manufacture enzymes. You get tired because it takes a lot of energy to digest that meal.
Where do we get enzymes from? There are two basic sources: The raw food we eat contains enzymes to help break down that particular piece of food. Our body also produces some enzymes. The two glands providing the majority of digestive chemicals utilized by the gastrointestinal tract are the liver and the pancreas. The more cooking and processing of food destroys all or most of the enzymes.
The more diet consists of raw foods like salads, the more natural energy you will have. Since most of the foods we eat are cooked or heavily processed in some way and the raw foods we do eat contain only enough enzymes to process that particular food, our bodies must produce the majority of the digestive enzymes we require. Again, we also lose the ability to produce these enzymes after we reach forty. For these reasons it is recommended that we supplement our diet with enzymes. Other than functioning as a natural energy booster, many enzymes have also been shown to have an anti-inflammatory effect which is a bonus.
7. Colon and Parasite Cleanse
If you are over the age of thirty and have never done a colon cleanse you are in for a tremendous natural energy boost. If you do your cleanse and eat a healthy diet with mostly fruits and vegetables and very little red meat or no meat at all you will feel lighter. You will focus easier. Your memory will improve and your energy will go up. You will just feel better over all. You have probably heard the saying that death begins in the colon. Well, good health and more energy also begin in the colon!
8. 24 Hour Fast
The body spends up to one third of your energy on digestion and elimination. By avoiding solid food and only taking in liquids like water and fresh organic juices you give the body a break. It can now use some of its stored energy to fight disease and eliminate toxins in the body.
By eliminating toxins the body is dumping them into the digestive tract to be eliminated. If the digestive tract (colon) is not clean and working well the toxins will just get reabsorbed into the bloodstream making you fell sick. If your colon is clean and you properly eliminate those toxins you get a general feeling of wellness, more energy and more mental clarity. Fasting, even just one day per month will help eliminate salt and sugar cravings. After a fast you are usually hungry for food that has high nutrient content, like green vegetables.
Dr. Paul Bragg states: "... fasting is not a cure of any disease or ailment. The purpose of the fast is to allow the body full range and scope to fulfill its self-healing, self-repairing, self-rejuvenating functions to the best advantage. ...Fasting is probably the fastest and safest way or means of regaining health ever conceived by the human man. ... Fasting puts the body in a condition where all the Vital Force of the body is used to flush out the causes of body miseries."
9. Take a Multivitamin
Modern farming practices have significantly reduced the amount of vitamins and minerals that are present in our food. By over-farming and relying upon unnatural processes to keep up with food demand, we have created foods that have been robbed of much of their nutritional value.
Nowadays it's nearly impossible to get all of the vitamins and nutrients the body needs through food alone. Fifty years ago this was not the case.
I recommend any of the following multi-vitamins: Garden of Life Living Multi, Life Extension Mix Capsules, and AOR Orthocore. If you're looking for a more cost effective option, Nature's Way Alive is a decent place to start.
10. Sleep
Sleep is the most natural remedy for increasing natural energy levels. Experts recommend at least 8 hours of sleep per night. If your schedule does not allow for 8 hours of sleep each night, experiment by going to bed 15-30 minutes earlier than normal or taking a quick nap.
Also, try to avoid caffeine after 2pm as it can interfere with your quality of sleep. Just because you are physically able to fall asleep after drinking caffeine does not mean it isn't impacting your quality of rest and recovery. Allow your body to get the most out of your 5-8 hours by avoiding caffeine after 2pm. Increasing the amount of sleep you get by as little as 20minutes can be one of the simplest natural energy boosters to incorporate into your life.
