If you've ever wondered how to naturally boost your energy levels, there are obvious things you can do like refraining from smoking, limiting alcohol, and getting enough sleep. But there are a few less-obvious steps you can take. Read on and discover 5 ways you can take your energy to the next level!
Design a morning ritual you look forward to
To create momentum to get your day going on the right start, set aside a few minutes each morning to organize and plan your day. Envision the goals you plan to execute throughout the course of the day. Starting the day with a large glass of lemon water will also hydrate the body and help the liver and digestion system prepare for the day ahead as your body wakes. Meditation is helpful in the mornings and has the ability to positively impact your mood and create positive intentions as your plan a productive day.
Boost Energy with Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is a medium-chain fatty acid that assists the body in burning fat for fuel. Most vegetable oils like canola oil and olive oil are long-chain fatty acids. To break these oils down, the body must perform a 26-step process to convert the fat for energy, whereas coconut oil simply takes 3 steps to seal the deal, making it a quick energy source1. Add a scoop of MCT Oil to your breakfast smoothie or oats for a healthy energy boosting breakfast to start your day!
Stretch Daily
In today’s society, most people, experience excess cortisol spikes as the body is exposed to hundreds of stressors, toxins, and poor eating habits. After working long hours and getting in activities for the day, we tend to be overworked with little sleep. Today, it is common for neurotransmitters, like glycine, to keep the brain going at night, making it even harder to sleep, even when we need it most! One variable to help out long-term energy is the increase of Gaba. Gaba is the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter of the body that is vital to achieving deep “delta wave” sleep that is needed for proper daily energy. One of the best ways to increase Gaba is to stretch. Simply stretching for 5-10 minutes daily helps to acquire a deeper, more rejuvenated sleep. Sleep is primary in increasing energy throughout the day. Aim for 7-10 hours each night of deep sleep.
Get in the Greens
Green leafy vegetables like kale, spinach, and chard are loaded with Chlorophyll, which helps to alkalize and energize the body. Chlorophyll is essentially the lifeblood of the plant and is loaded with essential vitamins and minerals such as magnesium. Magnesium, a key electrolyte, supports cellular function and muscle growth and function and is vital for energy. Get in those greens! An easy way to get them is through Sunwarrior’s Supergreens in a refreshing detox smoothie bowl or Sunwarrior's Warrior Blend + Greens in a refreshing green smoothie
Replace One Habit
“We are what we repeatedly do.” – Artistole
Most people have one or two bad habits that they tend to rely on daily, which steal energy. Whether it be stressing during the day without taking a moment to breathe or relax, or eating that donut in the break room, changing & eliminating just one habit has the ability to change your direction and improve energy tremendously! Our days tend to be a series of continuous habits, hour after hour, shaping our days, weeks and years. These habits ultimately have a powerful impact on the overall energy and vitality we experience.
To change a habit, first understand what is the cause, or reason, for this certain act or behavior. Once you establish what the catalyst is, replace your negative habit for a positive one. For example, if you have an energy crash at 3 PM and head for the break room for a sugary snack, next week, keep healthy snacks in your desk, such as a handful of almonds, an apple, or veggies with peanut butter.
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3975470/
