11 All-Natural, Instant Energy Boosters
Try these expert recommended tips to revitalize—right now
If
coffee is your go-to solution for the afternoon slump, try swapping out
your cup of Joe for green tea. "Green tea has small amounts of
caffeine, and there are many noted studies that demonstrate that EGCG,
the active compound in green tea, facilitates weight loss," says Dr.
Elizabeth Trattner, who specializes in integrative medicine in Miami
Beach, Florida.So in addition to boosting energy level, you might
burn some extra calories! A study by Japanese researchers found that
participants who consumed 690mg of catechins from green tea daily had
significantly lower body mass indexes and smaller waist measurements
than those in a control group. Green tea in the afternoon is also less
likely to interfere with your sleep schedule since it has less caffeine
than coffee per ounce.
Are
you reading this slumped over your computer, feeling tired at the
moment? Perk up by standing up, says Moshe Lewis M.D., chief of the
department of physical medicine and rehab at the California Pacific
Medical Center, St. Luke's Campus, in Redwood City, California."Never
sit too long. Vessels have a natural tendency to constrict during
periods of inactivity, zapping you of energy and making you feel
tired—even if you are not sleep deprived."
Standing up and walking around even just for a few minutes is enough to jump start your heart and muscles. Plus, it can help you be more productive once you sit down at your desk again, Dr. Lewis says.
Standing up and walking around even just for a few minutes is enough to jump start your heart and muscles. Plus, it can help you be more productive once you sit down at your desk again, Dr. Lewis says.
Think you can't live without your morning coffee? Trade it for this nutrient-packed drink once and you'll change your mind.
"I
usually have [this] for breakfast and then don't need to have coffee,"
says Joanna Chodorowska, a nutrition and triathlon coach in North
Whales, Pennsylvania.
Here's how to make it: In a juicer, combine
2-4 leaves of kale, 2-4 leaves of romaine lettuce, 1 inch ginger root,
half a lemon (with the seeds removed), one apple (cored), and a clove of
garlic (optional for cleansing and boosting immune system).
Chodorowska says you can use this as a base and add other dark greens,
carrots, celery, beets, or even an orange or pear instead of the apple
to make your own signature energy drink.
"Shifting
your posture can immediately give you more energy," says Dana Davis, a
certified yoga teacher and Balance Posture Method instructor at Sonoma Body Balance,
in Petaluma, California. We typically sit or stand with our shoulders,
neck, and head shifted forward, which can affect the arteries that bring
blood to our brain, Davis says.
"When [the arteries] are bent out of
shape, that can restrict the blood flow to the brain. Our misaligned
posture also wastes a lot of energy, as the muscles have to take over
work that the bones would normally do in a healthy person."
Davis
recommends a healthy, naturally aligned posture to help reduce long-term
fatigue and stress.
It's
tempting to turn to sugar (hello, chocolate!) when your energy dips,
but eating high-sugar foods will make your fatigue worse in the long
run. Make a habit of keeping apples on hand—at home and at work."A
simple apple is a great energy-boosting, mid-afternoon snack. Full of
vitamin C, fiber, and complex carbohydrates, an apple can deliver a
boost of energy and stabilize blood sugar," says Peggy Kotsopoulos, a
registered holistic nutritionist and author of Must Have Been Something I Ate.
What's more, new research from Florida State University says apple antioxidants and pectin (the sticky part of fruit used to make all-fruit jams and jellies) can help lower "bad" LDL cholesterol (think L is for lousy) and fight inflammation, a known trigger of premature aging and disease.
What's more, new research from Florida State University says apple antioxidants and pectin (the sticky part of fruit used to make all-fruit jams and jellies) can help lower "bad" LDL cholesterol (think L is for lousy) and fight inflammation, a known trigger of premature aging and disease.
