Being low on energy is one of the biggest hits to the quality of life. When you’re constantly sluggish, tired, and lacking the drive needed to make it through the day, it can be exceptionally difficult to find the motivation to get anything done.
This is why it’s super important to invest in replenishing your energy sources. You may be wondering, where do I even start with doing that? No worries! We got your back. Here are 3, all natural kick-ass wellness combinations to help put some pep back in your step.
Caffeine + Hydration
Caffeine has a bad rep in health and wellness spaces because it’s a stimulant that has been linked to increased blood pressure, insomnia, anxiety, and digestive issues. But like all things that have potentially negative side effects and risks, the adverse effects of caffeine are a direct result of overconsumption. In other words, moderation is key.
When consumed regularly and safely, caffeine can boost your energy, increase physical endurance while working out, and improve mental agility and brain function.
According to research, you can have 400mg of caffeine a day without any adverse effects. That’s equivalent to 4 cups of coffee, 8 cups of green tea, or 1 to 2, 12 oz energy drinks. So you can have all of those aforementioned benefits just by working a healthy caffeinated beverage or two into your daily routine.
I know what you’re thinking—I got the caffeine part, but where does hydration come in? Drinking water also naturally boosts energy by fighting off fatigue caused by dehydration.
So naturally, matching your daily coffee or tea with a follow-up bottle of water does wonders for your physical and mental energy.
Vitamin D + Stretching
Whether you get it from supplements, the food you eat, or good ol fashioned sunbathing, Vitamin D plays a vital role in strengthening your physical, mental, and emotional wellness.
Vitamin D boosts your energy by targeting all the things that depletes it in the first place. It supports your immune system and reduces the likelihood of severe disease; It helps with depression and overall mood; and helps with keeping weight healthy and under control.
Now why does this fat-soluble vitamin pair well with stretching? Well, stretching is also a way to dramatically improve your physical wellbeing without doing too much.
In fact, just 20 minutes of stretching, 3 times a week, increases blood circulation, helps with flexibility, and improves your ability to do daily activities without soreness and fatigue.
Rest + Whole Foods
Eating healthy, whole foods such as fruits, veggies, and whole grains is an easy way to increase energy because, after all, you are what you eat. So if you’re regularly consuming nutrient-dense foods, you’re already on your way to being healthy and whole, too.
And let’s make one thing clear: eating whole foods doesn’t mean that you need to be vegan, vegetarian, pescatarian, or anything like that! It simply means that you should keep eating processed foods—like candy, chips, and microwave-ready meals—to a minimum.
If you’re already doing that, great! But are you getting enough rest? That seems like a completely unrelated question, but did you know that a lack of good, consistent sleep can cause issues with digestion? Yup!
Studies show that a healthy sleep cycle helps produce hormones melatonin and prolactin, which improve the good bacteria in the intestines and helps digestion.
And healthy digestion is super important when it comes to improving your energy because it makes all the difference in how nutrients enter the body and how waste leaves it. So, get ahead of any issues by eating some delicious whole foods and getting your rest.
