Energy & Vitality
Release Your Inner VitalityImproving your Energy Levels Naturally
Our lives are too full of personal ‘energy thieves’, from excess toxicity to negative attitudes and people. ‘Energy thieves’ sap our natural vitality, and sabotage our ability to look and feel great. It takes a bit of effort to implement a lifestyle that creates habits designed to maximise energy and vitality. Exercise, good food, restorative rest and sleep as well as effective self-care are healthy habits that must be incorporated into your lifestyle for your to release your energy.
Making sure that your body is getting all of the nutrients that it needs can be a significant challenge – there is far more to it than meets the eye. Finding out information that you need to know about improving your energy levels in a natural manner is a bit more challenging than you might have originally thought – however, these simple solutions may help you to start improving your overall energy and vitality throughout the day.
Lethargy is something that will hold you back quite dramatically if you aren’t able to break free from feeling tired, heavy and weak – with our help, and with the help of these simple tips, improving your energy and vitality is within your reach.
Mindset
You might be wondering what you mind has to do with your energy levels, but one of the main reasons we become so tired is because we’ll spend a lot of time chasing our own thought patterns. All of those small thoughts that whittle around and confuse us can stop you from finding the right kind of answers, but will also go through your energy and vitality quite quickly. Take some time during the day, every day, to untangle your mind and get rid of all the thought debris that is floating around inside your head. Make these simple adjustments, and watch your body begin to feel far more energized – simply taking out all of those annoying thoughts and not going over the same things time and time again can help you save a considerable amount of energy.
Our pages on Meditation, Creative Visualization & Meditation contains lots of information and helpful tips on how you can help reduce the mental chatter and help untangle your mind.
Take Supplements
Many of us feel the need to revitalize and energize our minds and bodies, starting afresh with our best foot forward. This can sometimes feel like an uphill climb, however—not only do energy-thieving habits (staying indoors, comfort eating, too much time in front of the computer and so on) leave us with a “health debt”, many foods today are not as nutritious as they were in decades past, making it hard to restore one’s energy even when eating right.
As such, we turn to supplements for a much-needed boost, but there is such a plethora of options to choose from that it’s hard to sort out which we need in order to amp up our energy, and which are better suited to other purposes. Ergo, to aid in you in creating an effective “power cocktail”, the top 8 essential supplements for restoring energy and vitality are described below:
1. Ginseng
Ginseng is so powerfully energizing that it’s become a common additive in commercial energy drinks, helping to propel them to widespread popularity. Thankfully, you can get all the benefits without the artificial ingredients and sugars by taking this amazing plant in supplement form.
Chinese medicine has long employed ginseng for a variety of purposes, and today modern research has proven the herb to be beneficial to the immune system, to lower blood sugar levels, and to improve concentration and learning. Currently scientists are evaluating the ability of ginseng as a mood improver, endurance enhancer, and a whole lot more. All totalled, you can’t go wrong with this powerful plant!
For more info on the benefits of ginseng, go to our Youthful Longevity pages.
2. Magnesium
Magnesium deficiency is one of the great “silent epidemics” of modern nutrition, with experts in the U.S. claiming that the vast majority of us aren’t eating enough foods with magnesium.
Low magnesium levels lead to fatigue, increased inflammation in the body, and may contribute to heart disease, osteoperosis, diabetes, and certain cancers. It’s also one of the most common causes of chronic insomnia, making this supplement a “must have” if you have trouble sleeping and low energy levels as a result.
3. Rhodiola rosea
This herb, which is little-known today, was used extensively in ancient times owing to its remarkable ability to restore vitality. Thanks to modern research, we know Rhodiola can strengthen the nervous and immune systems, maintain healthy mood, and help improve energy levels.
For more info on the benefits of rhodiola, go to our Youthful Longevity pages.
4. Ashwagandha
This supplement, which has been used in India for centuries, is thought to boost the immune system and reduce swelling from both arthritis and fluid retention. Additionally, it is known for its calming effect.
Generally, however, the most energy-enhancing effect of Ashwagandha is its high levels of iron—iron deficiency is one of the most common culprits in chronic fatigue. (If you can’t find Ashwagandha, you can also supplement iron directly.)
5. B vitamins
B might as well stand for “buzz” with all the energy these essential vitamins supply. The B family of vitamins are known to improve mood, memory, vitality and concentration. They are also known to speed the healing process, particularly vitamin B3 and Pantothenic Acid. Biotin, when used in combination with chromium, may also help to control blood-sugar. Conversely, a lack of certain B vitamins, notably B12, can have a very harmful or even fatal effect on the body, so getting your Bs is extremely important to overall health.
6. Bee pollen
Bee pollen is an incredibly complete energy source, being rich in proteins (bee pollen is about 40% protein), free amino acids, vitamins, and anti-oxidants. Touted as one of the best natural energizers currently on the market, the carbohydrates, protein, and B vitamins found in this supplement powerfully ward off fatigue while promoting whole-body wellness. Caution: Those who are have asthma or are allergic to bee products should not take Bee Pollen.
For more info on other “bee products”, go to our Youthful Longevity pages.
7. Spirulina
Spirulina is often called a herb, but it’s actually an extremely nutrient-rich form of algae known as a “cyanbacteria”. This algae is one of the most complete nutrient sources we know of, containing high levels of protein, iron, and essential amino acids, and being one of the few plant-based sources of vitamin B12. It’s also a source of gamma linolenic acid (GLA), a powerful anti-inflammatory which is found in few other foods. Spirulina also contains: vitamins B1(thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (nicotinamide), B6 (pyridoxine), B9 (folic acid), vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin A and vitamin E, potassium, calcium, chromium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, selenium, and zinc.
8. Tyrosine
Tyrosine, along with other amino acids like carnitine and ornithine, helps to cleanse your body of wastes and to promote the production of energizing brain chemicals like dopamine and norepinephrine. In fact, a 2010 study published in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition revealed that tyrosine supplementation led to substantial improvements in focus and alertness even after exhaustive exercise, making this supplement the perfect choice for people who need extra energy to last through their demanding schedules.
Stay on the Move
The easiest way to release your inner energy, though, is to remain on the move and to stay active. The power of movement is immensely underestimated by many people, but making sure that your body is getting used to being active on a regular basis will mean that when you do start using energy and getting involved in more exhausting activities, you won’t get the same hit to your energy levels. If your body is used to things like hiking or some kind of competitive sport, an average day at work should be pretty simple for you from now on.
See our Fitness pages or go to our Yoga Poses page for lots of tips and suggestions for DIY fitness.
Eat Superfoods
Superfoods are loaded in antioxidants and nutrients. The presence of these antioxidants and nutrients in the body help to neutralize toxins and substances that may compromise overall health and well-being.
Superfoods include foods rich in beneficial fatty acids like:
Almonds, Anchovies, Avocado, Brazil Nuts, Chia Seeds, Coconut Oil, Flax Seeds, Olive Oil, Pecans, Pine Nuts, Salmon, Sardines, Sesame Seeds, Sunflower Seeds, Tuna, Walnuts.
Fruits, vegetables and spices bright in color indicate they contain plenty of antioxidants and phytonutrients.
Great choices include:
Apples, Asparagus, Blueberries, Bok Choy, Broccoli, Butternut Squash, Carrots, Cinnamon, Eggplant, Goji Berries, Kale, Oranges, Peppers, Pomegranate, Raspberries, Red Beets, Spinach, Sweet Potatoes, Tomatoes, Turmeric.
Incorporate super foods into every meal and enjoy their health and skin beauty boosting properties. Please see our Nutrition pages for more information.
High Fiber Low GI
Having a diet that is high in fiber and, hopefully, low in the glycemic index will be a good way to start boosting your energy levels. Because of the low of glycemic levels in foods like many vegetables, you will get a much longer feeling of energy from these than you would with something that’s full of sugars and fats. This helps balance out the body and the mind and prevents the problem of blood sugar going too high or too low, keeping you nice and balanced.
Go to our Nutrition pages for more information on good nutrition.
Do a Detox
Detoxing is not a new development. For thousands of years individuals have used detox diets to transform their health and rejuvenate their bodies. It is also well known to promote a youthful, and longer lifespan. By adding a one or two day detox to your healthy lifestyle once every 3 months, you can restore your body to a more youthful vigor that you may have thought was long since gone. You can effectively restore your body’s health and live a longer, healthier life looking and feeling your best.
By taking care of our bodies first we can better serve our families and communities, all while experiencing a youthful longevity thought to be impossible before.
Go to our Detox page for more information or sign up for our newsletter to receive our free eBook with 20 great recipes for healthy detox, our free gift to you when you subscribe.
Get a Good Nights' Sleep
One thing that many of us usually feel incapable of doing is getting a consistent, regular sleep. However, you know that you need to get a good sleep every day otherwise your body will start to suffer the consequences. If you are prepared to put the work in and to try and get healthy, then you should really make sure that you get adequate sleep every day as well. It will help promote positive health and ensure that you look your best. When you suffer from too much stress and too many sleepless night you may see the emergence of health problems. It is of vital importance that you take the time out to relax, relieve stress and ensure you have adequate rest to help the body rejuvenate and regain its vitality. By ensuring you feel pampered and nurtured positively, contributes to your sense of health and happiness.
Getting adequate sleep is essential. Lack of adequate good quality stress can cause elevated cortisol levels. Cortisol is the stress hormone, which can lead to insulin resistance and with insulin resistance comes the characteristic weight gain around the belly.
If you find it hard to get a good night’s sleep, the most important thing is to not stress about it. Brew a cup of chamomile tea or hot chocolate and pick up an inspiring bedtime novel. You can make this a regular bedtime ritual if you regularly have problems falling asleep. Eventually, this will become a signal to your brain that it’s bedtime. The simple act of picking up the book and sipping on the tea will make your eyes feel heavy inviting a relaxing, natural sleep.
Take a relaxing candle-lit bath with 5 drops each of relaxing essential oils such a lavender and ylang ylang and throw in a handful of Epsom salts. Sprinkle drops of lavender essential oil on your pillow to drift off into a tranquil sleep enveloped in the blissfully soothing aroma.
Stay Educated
One of the easiest ways to boost yourself mentally and to ensure that you continue to feel healthy is to keep learning. Ensuring that your mind is active, engaged and always taking on something new is one of the sure-fire ways to guarantee longevity in the mind. Educating yourself and taking on new challenges will keep your mind hopping around, and this will in turn make sure that you never look or feel too unhealthy! Knowledge is power, especially when it comes to your fitness.
These simple tips will make your life so much easier when you want to start looking good and experiencing the energy and vitality that comes from being healthy. However, getting healthy isn’t something that just happens – it takes a lot of time and development on your part, as well as bespoke planning to make sure that you have a fitness regime, a lifestyle and a mentality that suits the energy and vitality you are aiming for.
