Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Need Energy?

                                   

If your like me and find it impossible to get a good night's rest, try one of these simple solutions to boosting your energy level.

Your body, diet, environment, and overall health all play a role in determining your level of energy for the day and night. Some of the main causes of low energy include:

• Adrenal Fatigue: A slump in productivity may come from adrenal fatigue, which often strikes between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. Taking vitamin C and calcium magnesium, as well as getting to bed at 10 p.m. can help combat a dip in energy that occurs during the afternoon hours.

• Alcohol: Drinking too much alcohol not only places a stress on your body, but also your mind and spirit. The roller coaster ride of being sober and later recovering from a hangover certainly drains energy levels.

• Anxiety and Stress: Battling a constant strain on the mind can zap energy levels, as physical symptoms can cause fatigue, insomnia, headaches, irritability, and the feeling of being overwhelmed.

• Anemia: People with borderline anemia feel the most tired between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.

• Hypoglycemia: Also known as low blood glucose or low blood sugar, hypoglycemia occurs when blood glucose drops below normal levels [1].

• Constipation: If you are unable to eliminate the toxins that accumulate in your body, the amount of toxins increase, and then start to rob your body of energy for processing and storage.

• Repetitive Activities: The repetitive activities that you engage in, such as staring at a computer monitor all day, can contribute to a lack of energy.

• Grief and Sadness: Whether you’ve lost a loved one or going through a bout of depression, the body and mind are working overtime to cope – causing your energy levels to suffer.

• Insomnia: If you don’t get enough sleep, then it’s inevitable that you’ll have less energy throughout the day.

• Nutritional Deficiencies: If you skip breakfast or skim on a nutritious meal, you run the risk of lowering your energy levels throughout the day. A lack of certain vitamins causes your body and mind to become fatigued much quicker.

Once you have assessed your life and narrowed down the possible reasons behind your fatigued body and mind, it’s time to take action. Before turning to medicine and other over the counter products, consider the following home remedies for low energy:

Nuts:
A lack of protein can cause lowered energy levels. Nuts (especially almonds) provide a boost for your body by delivering much-needed protein.
Stretch Your Body:
For 10 minutes each morning and before going to bed, stretch your muscles and joints to encourage healthy breathing and circulation. Your body will also stay limber, which helps prevent any blocks of energy during the night.
Better Nutrition:
If your diet is full of refined sugar, fatty foods, and caffeinated drinks, you are in danger of suffering a lack of energy. However, a balanced diet that showers your body with healthy fruits, vegetables, carbohydrates and proteins can boost energy levels and increase motivation.
Healthy Snack Choices:
Limit your consumption of processed snacks (in other words – junk food) in order to reclaim your energy levels.

Ground Flaxseed:
Treat a sluggish body by keeping your essential systems in good health. Add two to three tablespoons of ground flaxseed to your morning cereal, yogurt, oatmeal, or smoothies to combat constipation that can actually drain your energy levels.

Take a Walk:
Stimulate your energy levels by taking a brisk walk every (or every other day).

Green Tea:
Sip cups of green tea throughout the day. With natural antioxidants and other components, the tea also helps to boost energy levels.
Quit Smoking:
Since smoking reduces the amount of oxygen found in the bloodstream, you suffer a decrease in energy levels.

Lower Your Caffeine Intake:
While you may drink beverages with caffeine to feel more alert and full of energy, the feeling soon wears off and often creates an opposite effect.

Folic Acid:
If you are deficient in folic acid, low energy levels are often a consequence. Eat foods that offer folate, such as spinach, asparagus, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and okra.

Ginger:
Since ginger has the power to stimulate the immune system, you can use it to increase your energy levels. Combine one teaspoon of freshly grated ginger root and one cup of boiling water. Allow the blend to sit for around 10 minutes. Strain the contents and drink.

Lose Pounds:
Dropping 20% of your weight if you are obese will raise your energy levels and make it easier for you to stick to a healthy exercise and diet plan.

Cold Water:
Splash your face with cold water for a wake-up call or if you are home, take a cold shower to revive your energy levels. Cascading water actually releases negative ions in the air, which surround the body – and are thought to create a more happier and energetic person.

Magnesium:
People with a deficiency of magnesium often feel tired. You could take 400 milligrams of magnesium per day or consume foods that contain magnesium, such as spinach and string beans.

Awaken Your Eyes:
If you’re in need of an energy boost when you’re doing an activity that uses the eyes, remember this easy exercise:
look left, look right, look up, look down, look wide, shut your eyes and squeeze tight.

Sleep:
Aim to get 6 to 8 hours of sleep each night so that you can properly function throughout the day. If you oversleep, you increase your chances of suffering a sluggish, groggy day.

Wheatgrass and Barley Drinks:
Fight low energy levels by drinking ‘green’ drinks that contain ingredients, such as wheatgrass or barley grass.

Dark Green Vegetables:
Treat the anemia that could possibly zap your energy levels between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. by increasing the amount of dark, green vegetables you consume on a daily basis.


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