When you think about being tired and needing more energy, does coffee or an energy drink come to mind? Or maybe that 3pm
afternoon sugar? If so, it’s not surprising, since this is where most people’s thoughts go. But believe it or not, there are many (healthy) ways to boost your energy levels more naturally without even consuming caffeine.
Try to Get More Sleep
This probably won’t surprise you, but the better sleep you get, the more energy you are going to have in the morning. This really is a no brainer, but we do often ignore it! If you have a habit of getting poor sleep that is constantly interrupted, then you will have low energy during the day that is hard to avoid unless you have large amounts of caffeine. To avoid this, start a night time routine that gets you restful for sleep, go to bed at a decent hour, and try to remove distractions by turning off your phone and keeping the TV and screens off, an hour before bed. Writing in your journal or brain dumping before bed is a great technique to try and calm your brain, or if you wake up with a busy head.
Eat your Vitamins
You also want to be sure you are eating a well-balanced diet that allows you to get all the important nutrients you need for proper energy. You get your nutrients from your food, so if your food is poor quality, your nutrient status, might not be ideal. Therefore, your energy quality might not be ideal. If you don’t have enough vitamin D in your diet and don’t get regular access to sunlight, your vitamin D could be low, leading to deficiencies. You also need other nutrients, including protein and carbs for energy. You can have your doctor or natural health practitioner check your bloodwork to see if there are any deficiencies that might be leading to a lack of energy throughout the day.
Add Chia Seeds to Your Diet
Chia seeds are an excellent source of energy-producing nutrients, including healthy fats, fibre, and protein. They are really easy to use in drinks, meals, and snacks, from topping your oatmeal with
them to adding them to smoothies. You can also use chia seeds to make chia seed pudding by soaking them in milk, juice or water and adding any flavours you choose. Just remember that chai seeds are always better soaked.
Note: if you are following a healthy lifestyle with Metabolic Balance, chia seeds are great for phase 3 and 4.
Get Regular Exercise
Exercise is going to help your energy levels in a number of different ways. First, it helps to boost your mood and give you an instant burst of energy once your workout is over. This is why exercising in the morning can be really beneficial. You will notice that you have more energy throughout the day when you exercise in the morning. If you exercise outside, you will have the added benefit of getting your vitamin D at the same time. Exercising more often will also take you to a place where you are more rested at night, helping you to get more sleep.
If you would like to have some help with boosting your energy, feel free to book a discovery call and lets work on your health and energy!
Zita Dixon - Nutritionist and Health coach.