It seems like summer started early this year with the mandatory stay home “vacations” many have had to take from work, the school closings and online schooling we’ve had to take on. Even though we may not be entirely sure what this summer will look like in terms of continuing to stay at home or being able to travel and participate in other summer fun activities, we could probably all use an energy boost about now and to get through the summer months. Here are some tips to help you get that energy boost and enjoy whatever type of summer activities you end up being able to do.
- Eat Breakfast – When our blood sugar levels go down, we experience less energy and tiredness. One way to help steady those levels is to make sure you start the day with a healthy breakfast that includes protein and complex carbs.
- Magnesium for Energy – We need magnesium in our diets to convert sugars into the form the body needs to be able to use for energy. Whole grains are a good source of magnesium and have the added benefit of helping your brain create more serotonin for a mood boost and helping to stabilize blood sugar by being absorbed more slowly by the body than other types of foods. Cashews, almonds, halibut, and seaweed are also good sources of magnesium. Research studies have documented that participants eating cereals rich in fiber, such as bran, each day, were less tired and had more energy in comparison to participants not eating fiber-rich cereals.
- Fuel Up with Glycogen – Glycogen is a type of fuel found in the liver that gets converted to glucose when we find the need for a quick energy burst. You can get glycogen from food sources such as most meats and liver in particular. If you are not a meat-eater, consider the blue green algae from Klamath Lake in which glycogen makes up the cell wall.
- Hydrate – Your body needs water for all its functions to work and staying hydrated is important for energy. How much water to drink depends some on what type of activity you are engaged in and the type of environment you are in. Don’t wait until you feel thirsty and dehydration is setting in. Keep water with you throughout the day to sip and increase the amount you are drinking if you up your activity levels. If your urine is a light yellowish color then you’ll know you are getting enough.
- Eat Small – Another technique to increase energy levels is to eat several small meals throughout the day instead of the usual breakfast, lunch, and dinner routine. Eating smaller meals throughout the day means less energy used at a time for digestion which requires a lot of your body’s energy. It also gives your body fuel for energy more often than the 3 meal a day plan and keeps blood sugar levels more stable. For additional support, add digestive enzymes to your daily regimen. Enzymes help you break down foods so your body doesn’t have to work as hard and spend as much of its energy on the digestion process. That leaves more energy reserves for other things.
- Cellular Energy Boost – The mitochondria in our cells need proper nourishment to produce energy. ATP (adenosine troposphere) is the fuel mitochondria needs to do its work. ATP is made by the body with the help of coenzyme Q10 which we make naturally when we are young, but find supplies depleted as we get older. A simple way to get more coenzyme Q10 is with this supplement that contains ubiquinol (the active antioxidant form of coenzyme Q10), 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.
- Move – Getting your body moving is an excellent way to boost energy naturally. If you feel yourself starting to drag, walk around, dance, or do a few jumping jacks or some other type of exercise. If you can work in a full workout for 10-30 minutes a day, that’s great, but even if you can’t, you can always find ways to get your body moving and send blood rich in oxygen throughout your body to heart, muscles and brain.
There you have it; seven ways to get your energy levels up so you can keep up with what I hope will be an active summer for you and your family. I hope we are all able to get out and experience some of the fun activities summer brings, but even if we still need to stay at home for the most part, summer can still be fun with a little creativity and the energy to enjoy it.
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
http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/ss/slideshow-fatigue-causes-and-remedies?ecd=wnl_day_061413&ctr=wnl-day-061413_ld-stry_2&mb=Xenvmz6dAtHtkRjp7Is6CeHnVev1imbCfXusP2Lh3sM%3d
https://www.webmd.com/balance/guide/boost-energy#1