Recycling Your Energy!

By:  Stephanie Benney

It happens everyday and I can feel it coming on like a freight train!  Without fail, around 2:30 in the afternoon, I enter that sluggish, coma-like state (although for the last 6+ months, this pregnancy has made me feel like that all day, everyday.)

I think every woman goes through an energy slump.  Whether it is a daily occurrence, or a seasonal occurrence, there are natural ways to fight it.  There is no need to rely on sugary energy drinks or double espressos.  They do nothing but cause a crash into an even bigger slump.

Before you take any steps, take a look at some key factors of your lifestyle.  Are you getting regular exercise?  Are you getting enough sleep?  Are you working too much?  Are you eating a healthy, well-balanced diet?  Answering these questions in an honest manner will help you come up with better solutions for recycling your energy.

10 Natural Ways to Boost Energy:

by:  Debbie Steinbock, Certified Holistic Health Counselor

1. Stay Hydrated: The first sign of dehydration is often fatigue. Be sure to drink plenty of water throughout the day, preferably before you feel thirsty. Experts recommend drinking 8 to 10 glasses of water daily. However, if you spend a lot of time outdoors or are very active, you should increase your water intake accordingly.

2. Green Vegetables: The high chlorophyll content of green vegetables helps to purify the blood and improve energy circulation. Green plants are among the highest nutrient packed foods and dark leafy greens have the highest levels of chlorophyll. Lightly steam or sauté greens like kale, collards, chard, spinach, bok choy, arugula, or watercress.

3. Fresh and Raw: Fresh, live foods such as leafy lettuces, crisp green beans, ripe tomatoes, and juicy fruits will help bring your energy up while their high water content works to cool your body down. Put simply, heavy foods make you feel heavy while light foods make you feel light. Try snacking on some celery, snap peas, and carrots or make a hearty summer salad for lunch.

4. Whole Grains: Whole grain foods such as quinoa, amaranth, brown rice, and millet break down slowly in the body providing you with more sustained energy and endurance. In contrast, the rush that you get from highly refined grains (i.e. white flour products) and sugars is often followed by energy depletion. Increasing your consumption of whole grains will naturally balance your blood sugar and your energy levels.

5. Vitamins B & C: Vitamin B, found in fish, brown rice, oats, whole wheat, walnuts, soybeans, and soybean products helps your body deal with stress. Vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant found in broccoli, cabbage, leafy greens, squash, red and green peppers, cantaloupe, strawberries, oranges and grapefruit helps defend your body from disease. Getting adequate levels of Vitamins B and C is essential to maintain health and feel energized.

6. Potassium & Magnesium: Foods high in the minerals Potassium and Magnesium help to fight fatigue. Potassium and Magnesium rich foods include leafy green vegetables, broccoli, peas, tomatoes, potatoes (especially the skins), beans, nuts, seeds, oranges, bananas, apples, avocados and whole grains. These mineral rich foods work to regulate energy levels, enhance immune response, and improve physical performance.

7. Iron: Iron is a trace element which aides in energy production and is essential for proper immune functioning. Good sources of iron include high quality meats, poultry, and fish, as well as seaweeds, nuts, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, whole grains, and leafy greens, especially kale and spinach.

8. Eat Regularly: Your blood sugar level is directly correlated with your energy level. Eating regularly scheduled meals will ensure that your body has the necessary fuel to run all day. When you skip meals you fail to replenish your energy reserves. Try to bring a good lunch to work and always keep healthy snacks on hand.

9. Prioritize Nourishment: If you don’t give your body what it needs, how can it give you what you need? Set aside time to prepare meals and eat without rushing. Invite a friend to cook with you or make a meal for someone you love. Appreciate that you are nourishing your body. Your food will digest more efficiently and you will feel both relaxed and energized afterwards.

10. Take Time for You: Stress contributes to fatigue. Schedule time for you—to relax, get outdoors, exercise, sleep late, or read a good book. Allowing yourself down time will help replenish and re-energize your body.

Stephanie Benney is a “Sustainable Visionary” and also the new Pittsburgh Representative for Fuzed Marketing, where she helps companies increase their brand presence. stephaniebenney@yahoo.com