Healthy Living for Natural Energy

Energy is another mandatory nutrient we need for every day life; it’s just as important as drinking water, sleeping and breathing. Without energy, we cannot perform the physical and mental tasks we need to complete throughout the day.

Many times when people need a boost of energy, they reach for coffee, energy drinks, sugar and sometimes medication. While all of these options supply short-term bursts of energy, a crash is soon to follow. That crash generally leads to another desperately needed spike of energy to get through the rest of the day, and the vicious cycle continues until you’re finally home, exhausted from your energy rollercoaster. This end-of-day exhaustion leads to cravings, or in other words, a bowl of pasta and an immediate carbohydrate-coma, which is often mistaken for natural sleep.

If you want to have natural, long-lasting and constant energy throughout your day, you need to do two simple things, eat clean and exercise. Simple baby steps will improve your energy; it doesn’t have to be an immediate change.

1. First, start working out either before or after work. Start your day off right with a run or weight lifting session, or maybe end your workday with an enjoyable swim or some powerlifting with friends. Whatever your sport is, do it consistently to provide your body with natural reoccurring energy.
2. Secondly, eat right throughout the day. Start your morning off with protein, like eggs, and maybe some healthy fats like an avocado or a bowl of oats for energizing carbohydrates. These foods are not going to spike your insulin and prepare you for a crash later in the day, but instead they will sustain your current energy.
3. Thirdly, choose something healthy for lunch, like tuna, an apple and some veggies. You could also take a stir-fry to work with ground turkey, bell peppers, brown rice and avocado. It doesn’t have to be boring, but as long as you’re eating natural wholesome ingredients, your body will provide you with sustaining energy and brain power.

If your energy does drop, eat an apple instead of drinking coffee, as it has the same effect. Apples provide just as much energy as coffee plus they are fortified with vitamins and minerals. Go the extra mile in your healthy choices and eat organic to avoid pesticide-fighting chemicals.

The combination of both clean eating and exercise will provide your body with the natural energy it craves. What goes inside your body determines how well it functions, so a nutritious and beneficial diet will result in long-lasting, daily energy that’s way better than any artificial, sugar-loaded energy drink!