Summer will be here before you know it, is your energy level ready for it? Summertime means extra outdoor activities like camping, swimming, biking as well as kids and grandkids around, events to attend, vacations to take, and all sorts of activities that you’ll need a boost in energy to get it all done. There are natural solutions you can start using now to get your energy level up to peak so you’ll be ready to have a fun active summer.
Energy Boosting Foods
Research has shown there is a definite correlation between food and mood. The types of foods you eat can have an effect on your metabolism, your brain chemicals, your mood, and your energy level. Eating a diet with foods that balance blood sugar and release the brain chemicals connected to energy levels are a good place to start for boosting energy. When the brain chemicals such as epinephrine, norepinephrine, serotonin and dopamine are high then our energy levels are high as these affect energy and mental focus. Complex carbs such as come from whole grains are energy boosting foods as they increase serotonin levels and the body absorbs them slowly which helps keep stable blood sugar levels. These types of foods also have fiber which helps flush out toxins in the body that can zap energy. Making sure your diet also includes foods such as pork, chicken, and turkey that has the amino acid tyrosine and will help boost the dopamine and norepinephrine in your brain. Other types of energy boosting foods are those with iron such as oysters, red meat, egg yolks, spinach, liver and artichokes and those with magnesium like cashews, almonds, halibut and bran cereal. As well as what you eat, don’t forget what you drink in this equation. Drinking lots of water will help keep you hydrated which boosts energy and increases your metabolism. Besides drinking water, you can include high water content fruits and vegetables, teas and other natural drinks that use water to make, and foods that absorb a lot of water when being cooked like rice. All this will help ward off energy zapping dehydration.
Along with the types of foods you eat and what you drink, when and how much you eat can make a difference in your energy level. If you are feeling low-energy, be sure you eat breakfast and that it includes a complex carb from whole grains, a healthy fat and lean protein. This type of breakfast will get your day off to a good start with an energy boost that will last throughout the day. Then instead of eating a medium or large lunch and dinner later in the day, try having several smaller meals or snacks throughout the day. This also keeps your energy level and blood sugar levels stable. Again, have these snacks include a healthy lean protein, healthy fat such as monounsaturated or polyunsaturated, and some type of whole grains.
Stress Zaps Energy
Our lives are full of stress which is a big energy zapper. Foods with vitamin C such as oranges, grapefruits, papaya, red bell pepper, broccoli, kale, kiwi and strawberries and with omega-3 fatty acids such as found in coldwater fatty fish, nuts, seeds, and AFA bluegreen algae help in reducing stress hormones which increases energy levels. Dark chocolate has also been found to reduce stress hormones and increases energy with the caffeine and theobromine it contains. We can’t totally avoid stress, but we can find ways to reduce the effect it has on us. Yoga, deep breathing, meditation, exercise, hobbies, and listening to music are all ways that people use to cope with stress. If you don’t have a stress coping strategy, give some of these a try and see what works for you.
Let the Sun Shine On You
Exposure to sunlight can increase endorphins and serotonin in the brain. Studies show getting out in the sunshine can boost your energy, mood, and your memory. If you aren’t able to get out in the sun you can swallow your sunshine by eating foods such as dark leafy greens or AFA bluegreen algae rich in chlorophyll. Chlorophyll is the green pigment in plants essential for photosynthesis that converts energy from the sun into sugar and energy that the body needs. AFA bluegreen algae also has the added benefit of increasing typtophan and PEA in the brain. It also has cell walls made up of glycogen, the fuel converted to glucose our bodies use for a boost of energy and the essential fatty acids, vitamins, amino acids, proteins, and nutrients the body uses for energy.
Supplements For Boosting Energy
When we are into summer activities and on the run, we don’t always take the time to eat the way we should to keep our energy up. It’s tempting to grab a sugary snack or caffeinated drink to keep going, but if you need a healthy way to supplement your diet to boost energy here are two natural solutions to try. This ubiquinol and algae supplement feeds your body on a cellular level with this combination of pure ubiquinol, reishi and oyster mushrooms, polyphenols from olives, and AFA bluegreen algae, designed to activate cellular energy to support a healthy cardiovascular system which can improve energy levels. The antioxidant ubiquinol is the active form of conenzyme Q10 the body uses for energy and to relieve stress. Another supplement that gives you the nutrition that can help with physical energy is this one with a combination of AFA bluegreen algae, wheatgrass juice, cordyceps mushrooms, bee pollen, turmeric, noni, and green tea.
Don’t miss out on any of the fun this summer. Get started making diet and lifestyle changes now to get your energy level up and running so you’ll have all the energy you need to do everything you want to when summer hits.
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Sources:
http://www.prevention.com/food/food-remedies/52-healing-superfoods?s
http://www.webmd.com/parenting/family-health-12/slideshow-energy-foods
http://www.webmd.com/balance/stress-management/ways-to-beat-stress