Natural Energy Boosters

The importance of energy to our body is so much that if insufficient food is eaten, there will be a negative energy balance which will result in weight loss. If too much food is consumed then there will be a positive energy balance, and the excess energy produced is stored as body fat resulting in weight gain. You must have observed that healthy kids and adolescents have a positive energy balance in form of weight gain.  

Our meals are for energy but we can’t eat food all the time. We need certain other measures to stay energized but instead of energy drinks, there are natural energy boosters to keep us energized all day.

Natural Energy Boosters

There are ways to stay energized throughout the day and natural energy boosters help you stay energized and keep up with your energy requirements. Some of these energy boosters are provided to us by nature and we need to make the optimum use of them to gain energy.

Water

Water is one of the best natural energy boosters. Lack of water in the body leads to dehydration and can lead to fatigue in the body. When your body has not hydrated the flow of oxygen to the brain and muscles is negatively impacted.

Even mild dehydration can drop your energy level. Loss of water in form of perspiration after exercise can make you feel more fatigued.

Men should drink 15.5 cups (3.7 litres) of water every day and 11.5 cups (2.7 litres) should be taken by women, though activity level and body size differ from person to person. That amount also includes fluid from food like soups, broth and buttermilk.

 Sleep

Sleep is the time when the body renews and repairs itself. This plays the greatest role in energy generation as it enhances the ability of the body to make ATP, the energy molecule of the body.

The body releases hormones during sleep that help repair cells, control the body's use of energy and can affect your body weight. But lack of sleep can produce diabetic-like conditions even in healthy people.

But you need to work on your sleep strategies to get the maximum energy out of it. You can try following sleep strategies.

·        Get up early and go to bed two to three hours earlier than normal.

·        Maintain that sleep schedule even when you don’t have to get up early.

·        Take in as much outdoor light as possible during the morning and limit your light exposure at night.

·        Eat breakfast early and don’t eat after 7 p.m.

·        Avoid sipping coffee after 3 p.m. or napping after 4 p.m.

Stress control 

Stress-induced emotions consume huge amounts of energy and make you feel tired. Reducing your stress levels makes you feel better and improve your energy levels, mental clarity, and physical fitness.

To control stress and boost the energy levels you need to reduce your workload as one of the main reasons for fatigue is overwork. Try relaxation therapies like yoga and meditation to calm your mind.

Exercise to get energy

Aerobic exercises such as biking, dancing, brisk walking, jogging or hiking is especially effective at reducing stress and improving your mood.

When you do these activities, your body releases mood-boosting chemicals called endorphins, while reducing stress hormones, such as adrenaline and cortisol.

Eat energy-rich food

There are certain food items different from our regular meals that help in boosting your energy level when consumed. These food items are:

·        Bananas, high-power energy-rich food.

·        Dark chocolate, full of antioxidants

·        Fatty fish like mackerel, salmon, and sardines are a great source of energy.

·        Nuts like walnut, pistachio and almonds

·        Pumpkin seeds

·        Oats are a slow-burning source of energy due to the presence of complex carbohydrates.

·        Lentils, the tasty legumes, rich in carbs and fibre.

Vitamin B12 for energy

Vitamin B12 has a special quality which helps transform the food you eat into energy that your cells can use. It also keeps the nerves and blood cells of the body healthy. Consumption of vitamin B12-rich food helps prevent a type of anaemia that can make you feel weak and tired.

Naturally, it can be taken from the consumption of animal meat, liver and fish like sardines and tuna. Vegetarian sources can be yoghurt, cheese, fortified cereals and plant-based milk like soy milk, almond milk and rice milk.

Sunlight, the universal energy booster

Sunlight helps boost a chemical in your brain called serotonin, and that can give you more energy and help keep you calm, positive, and focused. Doctors sometimes treat the seasonal affective disorder (SAD) and other types of depression linked to low levels of serotonin with natural or artificial light.

 Sunlight kills bacteria and keeps us germ-free, reduces high blood pressure, regulates the immune system, strengthens bones, improves sleep quality and boosts mood.

According to Ayurveda, the sun is the ultimate bestower of amazing health and the source of life for all. We are solar-powered creatures and live by the course and direction of the sun, so sunlight is necessary for energy for living beings

 We require energy to do every single body function. Our body works and remains active due to the constant energy supply through the food we eat. A mildly active person spends 60% of his body's energy on resting and only 32% of his energy on physical activity, so you need to boost your energy resources.