5 Energy boosting tricks!

When was the last time you felt 100%?

Are you fed up with feeling tired all the time? The stresses and pressures of modern life have left many of us feeling exhausted, overwhelmed and with little time or energy to take care of ourselves. Now our bodies are beginning to pay the price. Sure, that chocolate bar or cappuccino might make you feel great for, ooh, about five minutes, but after that quick high wears off, you’ll crash and burn and feel even more drained.

Trick 1

Eat a nutrient rich diet

The first step to boosting your energy is a healthy, nutrient-rich diet. Your body needs nutritious food as fuel to work efficiently. So that means filling up on lots of protein and whole grains, which take longer for your body to break down, ensuring you have a consistent dose of energy throughout the day.

Trick 2

Swap energy drinks for invigorating herbs

Want to feel more energised? Brace yourself - it’s time to ditch the coffee, Diet Coke and energy drinks. Caffeine taxes the adrenals (the glands which produce hormones that help the body control blood sugar, burn protein and fat, react to stressors like major illness or injury and regulate blood pressure).

Some of the best adaptogenic herbs that have been shown to boost energy and combat fatigue include: Ashwagandha, Rhodiola, Holy Basil, Ginseng

It is recommended that you seek the guidance of a Naturopathic Practitioner or health care provider if you would like to incorporate herbs into your daily routine.

Trick 3

Get moving!

Yes, we know, having a workout is often the last thing on the to-do list when you’re run down and low on energy. Sticking to a regular exercise routine is one of the easiest ways to beat fatigue and feel full of beans. When your body becomes more active, internal mechanisms like metabolism and blood flow speed up. It’s as if you’re waking your body up from the inside! Getting your heart rate up also helps produce those lovely endorphins, the happy hormones that trigger a positive feeling in the body.

Trick 4

Follow the sun!

The body makes vitamin D from sunlight, and a lack of it can make you feel lethargic, sleepy and less motivated to exercise or make healthy food choices. The so-called ‘sunshine vitamin’ is vital for keeping energy levels high, and one of its many roles is to help your body manage sugar, maintaining insulin balance and reducing inflammation and pain, which is bound to make you feel a bit better in yourself.

Trick 5

Prioritise Sleep

It’s obvious, right? If you haven’t slept well, you’re going to be tired. And when your sleeping patterns are out of whack, it puts stress on the adrenals, which can lead to brain fog and more serious health problems. Sleep is when the body restores itself and produces melatonin, which sets the circadian rhythm (your internal body clock), so aim for seven to eight hours a night. If you’re struggling to fall or stay asleep, filling up on foods with melatonin can help. Add bananas, pineapples, rice and oats to your diet. Introduce a bedtime routine to calm the mind ready for sleep – that means switching off all electronic devices ideally an hour before bed, practise some meditation, write down any worries so they won’t keep you awake or read a few pages of a good book. You’ll soon find your eyelids getting heavy, and you’ll drift off into the Land of Nod.