By: Brandi Black, RHN
Many people (including myself) look forward to a comforting, aromatic cup of coffee first thing in the morning. But if you struggle with having enough energy throughout the day, did you know that having caffeine could actually harm your health and wellness by making you feel more tired? There are other ways to boost energy naturally.
It sounds counter-intuitive to think that coffee could be a low energy culprit- especially when it gives you a nice little "energy” buzz and kick start to your day. Caffeine is even found in pre-workout supplements and energy boosting pills. But the truth is, caffeine can have a negative impact on blood sugar levels, which can influence how much energy (or
You see, caffeine is a substance that gives you an artificial boost of energy. This means that caffeine provides you with a quick burst of energy at first- but an hour or two later, you'll most likely be back to feeling tired when your blood sugar levels drop. (Also known as a caffeine crash.)
How Caffeine Can Lead to Physical Burnout
Another downside to relying on caffeine for energy is that it can create a dependency. The more regularly you drink caffeine, the more you'll need to get the same energy-buzzing effects. For this reason, some people even have up to 6 cups of coffee per day.
In addition, caffeine can also lead to physical burnout. Now, that may sound extreme, but caffeine can have a negative impact on your adrenal glands. This is because each time you drink a cup of coffee, your body signals to your adrenal glands to release the stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline. These are the exact same hormones your body releases when you encounter a dangerous or
When your body constantly releases stress hormones, regardless of why the stress hormones are being released, your adrenal glands may begin to get tired. When your adrenal glands start to wear out, the result is fatigue. In more serious cases, a condition called adrenal fatigue can result, which often requires weeks to months of bed rest.
Now, that's not to say a few cups of coffee or caffeinated drinks each week is going to sentence you to bed for the next few months. However, this information is meant to illustrate how caffeine can contribute to making your energy
Imagine having energy levels that last from the moment you wake up, until the moment you fall asleep. Instead of dragging yourself to the gym, you can't wait to pull up in the gym parking lot and begin your workout. Or maybe you have more time to spend with your children, grandchildren, or even taking your fur babies for longer walks (that
Here are six ways to boost energy naturally without caffeine, so you can begin to get the most out of each day, every day.
1. Eat More Alkaline Foods
You may have heard of acidic and alkaline foods
Now, you may not think you eat many acidic foods. After all, tomatoes,
That being said, it is ok to consume acidic foods in moderation and important to balance your diet with plenty of alkaline foods. This can be as simple as having a big green salad before dinner each day, taking Sun Chlorella with breakfast or starting your morning off with an apple instead of a cup of coffee. By adding more alkalizing fruit, vegetables, algae and leafy greens to your diet, you'll not only help reduce the acidity in your body, but you'll also receive plenty of essential energizing nutrients (such as B vitamins) from
2. Include Protein Rich Foods Into Your Diet
One of the most common reasons for being tired by the afternoon is not having the right kind of breakfast. To help boost energy naturally, it's best to include a good source of protein with every meal, which helps stabilize blood sugar. For example, whole grain rolled oats and blueberries make a great high fiber breakfast, but since they are both carbohydrates (which break down into sugar), they provide a quicker source of energy that may only last 2-3 hours. But adding a source of protein to your oatmeal, such as organic scrambled eggs, will help slow the release of the sugar into your bloodstream, which therefore stabilizes your blood sugar levels.
Stable blood sugar levels are mandatory if you want to have all-day energy. Both proteins and healthy fats digest very slowly and greatly reduce the impact that energy-spiking carbohydrates alone can have on blood sugar levels.
A few examples of ideal meal combinations that will help promote lasting energy include:
- 1 cup of quinoa with a sliced banana and a handful of walnuts
- plain organic greek yogurt with cinnamon and berries
- whole grain gluten free toast with dijon mustard, sprouts and avocado
3. Start Your Day With Clean, Filtered Water
The more hydrated you are, the more energized you are.
Starting your day with at least two glasses of water on an empty stomach as soon as you wake up can also promote natural body detox from energy robbing toxins. Water is essential to helping our bodies eliminate the toxic waste that naturally builds up in our systems (especially from toxins found in our environment). For this reason, drinking a few glasses on an empty stomach can help
If you have a hard time remembering to drink water in the morning, try leaving a glass of room temperature water on your
4. Eat Foods Rich in B Vitamins (Especially B12)
One of the primary functions of B vitamins is to help the body produce energy by transporting oxygen between our cells. This is especially true for vitamin B12. Bioavailable Vitamin B12 is found mostly in animal products and organ meats, rather than plant foods- which is why many vegans and vegetarians often struggle to get the daily recommended intake of B12.
However, there is one
Adding chlorella to your diet is easy, especially if you like to make smoothies. Sun Chlorella tablets or Sun Chlorella Powder can be blended with your
5. Get Outside (Even For 10 Minutes)
If you're stuck inside all day, you may just need an oxygen boost from fresh air to get your energy levels up. If you spent most of your time inside during the day, try stepping outside for some fresh air the next time you begin to feel sluggish. If you can go for a short walk, that's even better- since exercise helps to further increase energy levels.
Whenever possible, try getting outdoors on your lunch break. You can even make getting fresh air easy when you run errands, simply by parking further away.
6. Sip on Some Well Well Wow!
Amazing green superfood,
As mentioned at the beginning of this blog post, having healthy adrenal glands are so important to our body's energy levels. And luckily, adaptogenic herbs are specific herbs found in nature may help support adrenal function, while increasing energy levels and improving mental focus (which are both impaired by a lack of energy). These herbs are called adaptogenic herbs, or adaptogens because they help the body cope and adapt to stressful situations.
Eleuthero (also known as Siberian ginseng) is a superior adaptogenic herb found in the all-natural energy drink, Well Well Wow!, along with cell rejuvenating power of Chlorella Growth Factor (CGF)- considered on of the most important components in chlorella.
With absolutely no caffeine, or other stimulants, you can expect to receive only pure, natural energy from Well Well Wow! without the jitters or dreaded energy crash.