It’s 3pm and you’ve hit an all time energy low, or you’ve woken up at 6am feeling like you were hit by a bus in the night. Sound familiar? Ain’t nobody got time for an energy low am I right? There are far too many people to see, places to go and thing to do. Here are my top 5 tips to boost energy and avoid energy lows altogether!
1. Hydrate
Are you rolling your eyes at this? Yes we all know we should drink our 8 glasses of water a day…but what else goes into your glass of water? If it’s just water that you’re drinking with nothing else, it could just be passing right through you. Or you could be ‘hydrating’ by consuming sugary, fizzy or caffeinated drinks that act as a diuretic.
By adding healthy electrolytes into your water you could experience improved energy as you will be hydratedon a cellular level. Our cells need to be hydrated to communicate efficiently and so we will experience feeling drained if we are dehydrated. But what should we add in? Here is a list of my favorite things to add into water (per 1l) to improve hydration:
- a pinch of sea salt
- ½ cup coconut water
- a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar
- a squeeze of lemon
- a dash of 100% fruit juice
2. Deep belly breathing
Breathing in deeply invigorates our red blood cells and breathing out gets rid of metabolic waste. Did you know that up to 70% of the toxins in our bodies are expelled through the breath? If you can master diaphragmatic breathing, you can actually slow the pace of your heart down resulting in deeper relaxation. This is necessary to avoid adrenal fatigue and allow the body to function using the parasympathetic nervous system. Deep breathing also helps to send oxygen to the brain and improve brain performance.
The following apps are helpful to assist you with deep breathing:
Breathe2Relax
Universal Breathing: Pranayama
3. Avoid sugary foods
Contrary to popular belief, sugardecreases energy and focus. Consuming foods high in sugar result in a spike in blood sugar levels followed by a rapid drop leaving you feeling lethargic. Work towards eating a balanced diet that is low in refined sugar so as to maintain balanced energy levels.
4. Eat nutrient dense foods
There are a number of superfoods out there that improve energy levels, some right away and others when taken over a long-term period. But the best way to avoid energy lows, is to eat well most of the time, feeding your body with the nutrients that it needs to perform the many metabolic and cellular processes.
Some of my favorite superfoodsfor energy include:
Maca powder – rich in a variety of vitamins and minerals, this Peruvian superfood is an adoptogen and helps the body adapt to stress while giving you an energy boost.
Spirulina – antioxidant rich, packed with vitamins and minerals, this nutrient-dense powder can be added to smoothies to boost your energy levels.
Raw cacao – high in antioxidants this superfood helps to boost the immune system and supports cardiovascular health.
5. Go for a walk
Go walkabouts preferably in nature (but in your office block is better than nothing too). It is proven that being in nature and even walkingbarefooton grass or soil, helps to improve mood and energy. Walkingaround will immediately improve blood circulation and increase blood flow to the brain, boosting your energy levels.
