If you have a demanding job, you will always find yourself drained and fatigued. Sometimes, you may have to gulp down bottles of energy drinks to keep you going. However, if you are health conscious, and know the dangers of consuming energy drinks, and you’d rather look for how to increase your energy level naturally.
When you go to the grocery store, you will find the energy drink section stuffed with different brands of stimulants, with each brand promising a never-seen-before burst of energy. These energy drinks contain guarana, ginseng, and chromium picolinate, as active ingredients, but science has not proven their efficiency.
If you’re looking for how to increase your energy level naturally, here are 7 tips that will help you:
1. Increase your Energy Level Naturally with Vegetable Juice
Vegetables like cabbage, spinach, and water-cress contain a huge amount of energy-boosting vitamins A, C, and K. They also contain a healthy amount of magnesium and potassium, which are necessary for energy production. Additionally, these vegetables provide energy to the cells and remove toxins. This detoxification effect also helps to ward out sickness at an early stage.
2. Exercise Regularly to Activate Natural Energy Boosters
Regular exercise is a good way to increase your energy level naturally. This is because regular workout creates new mitochondria in your cells. Mitochondria are the powerhouse of the cells where the body produces energy from the glucose extracted from food. The more mitochondria your body is able to make, the more natural energy booster it generates from food. This explains why people who do not work out suffer more fatigue than those who don’t.
It’s true that sometimes, people with a hectic work schedule find it difficult to squeeze out some time to hit the gym. However, it doesn’t always have to be high intensity workouts. You can increase your energy level naturally by taking a brisk walk, doing some stretches, and performing some aerobics at home.
3. Avoid Smoking
The FDA says that smokers are liable to die young, but that doesn’t tell the full story. Smoking is dangerous to the lungs, and can also harm almost all other organs of the body. It is true that the cigarette contains nicotine, which is a stimulant, but while it gives you a momentary burst of energy, its danger outweighs the benefit.
Smoking increases hearth rate and blood pressure, and causes insomnia by stimulating brainwave activities that makes it difficult for you to sleep.
4. Eat for Energy
This should be a no-brainer, right? But it’s not as straightforward as it sounds. While all foods provide energy, the best energy boosting technique is to eat meals with low glycemic index. These meals have very little effect on the blood sugar level, because the body absorbs their sugar gradually.
Natural energy boosting low-glycemic index foods include:
| Low glycemic food class | Examples |
| Legumes and Beans | Lentils, Chickpeas, Kidney beans, Black beans, and Pinto beans. |
| Lean Proteins | Turkey breast, chicken breast, fish (especially cod, trout, and salmon), eggs, and tofu. |
| Whole Grains: | Quinoa, Barley, Brown rice, Oats, and Whole wheat. |
| Non-Starchy Vegetables | Broccoli, Cauliflower, Spinach, Kale, and Brussels sprouts. |
| Nuts and Seeds | Almonds, Walnuts, Chia seeds, Flaxseeds, and Pumpkin seeds |
| Berries | Blueberries, Strawberries, Raspberries, Blackberries, and Cranberries. |
| Dairy Products | Greek yogurt, Cottage cheese, and low-fat milk. |
| Healthy Fats | Flaxseed oil, avocado, coconut oil, olive oil, and nuts and nut butter. |
Eating these meals will help your body retain energy for a long time. On the other hand, when you eat processed food, such as in sugary drinks, cookies, candies, and sweetened snacks, you will experience a spike in blood sugar level. This gives you energy momentarily, but it doesn’t last. Within a short time, you will also suffer a sharp decline in energy level, causing you extreme fatigue.
5. Drink Lots of Water
Dehydration causes fatigue, and impairs cognitive functions such as memory, attention, and concentration. On the other hand, proper hydration helps the body to perform optimally. It aids in the effective transportation of oxygen and nutrients, which improves energy levels.
Water regulates the body temperature, helps in the metabolic breakdown of food to create energy, and provides adequate hydration to sustain energy and prevent dehydration.
6. Get Adequate Rest
With every opportunity you get, make sure to take an adequate bed rest. A one-hour nap can clear your mind and increase your energy level naturally, so that you wake up feeling reinvigorated. The best way to rest after a hectic day is to turn off your phones and gadget, stay in a cool dark room. Listening to the sound of rain and thunder may help you relax if you find it difficult to sleep.
Natural Ways to Get Temporary Energy Boost
If you need a quick fix, but you can’t get any of the things listed above, you can resort to natural quick fixes. Like herbal teas and peppermint oil.
Green tea contains antioxidant that relieves stress, and mops up free radicals that harm the calls. Peppermint oil, on the other hand, is used for aromatherapy, and science has proven that it can stimulate the brain. You can add some peppermint oil to your bathing water, dab it on your wrist and inhale from time to time, or just put it in your diffuser.
In conclusion, you can increase your energy level naturally without resorting to energy drinks and other stimulants. These artificial energy boosters spike up blood pressure, and can lead to other health hazards.
