Top tips to keep your energy levels high

Looking for an all-natural way to beat that dreaded energy slump? Quick-fix energy boosters are all around us, but whether these are natural or not is a different story. There are a number of natural ways to give yourself a sustained energy boost. Tap into the power of these natural energy pick-me-ups and you may find your energy levels improve.

Get Moving

As you grow older, an active lifestyle is more important than ever. Fitness and exercise are not only important for boosting your energy levels, but also for maintaining clarity of mind, a steady mood and enhanced memory. Starting or maintaining regular exercise can be a challenge for some people so it is important to find something that works well for you as an individual; whether this be power walking, yoga, Pilates, gym sessions, or anything else that involves movement of your entire body. It is advised to include at least three active days into your week to really reap the benefits of this energy-boosting strategy. Exercise could be your key to staying energetic, strong and healthy.

Colour-fy Your Diet

The importance of eating fruits and vegetables on a daily basis is underrated. People who eat a range of colourful fruits and vegetables consistently may experience less symptoms of stress, fatigue and illness throughout life. Fruits and vegetables contain many vitamins and minerals that have natural energy-boosting properties to help keep your energy levels high, including iron, potassium, magnesium, folate, vitamin A, and vitamin C, just to name a few. As you grow older, it is important to be consuming foods that support digestive health and natural metabolism. When shopping for fruits and vegetables, choose an assortment of different colours and variations, and when you are cooking, try to reduce any peeling or cutting of the fruit/vegetable to preserve the nutrient and enzyme content as much as possible.

Top-Up Your Natural Antioxidant Levels

There are many natural compounds found in the body that are important for our energy production pathways. One of these is Ubiquinol, which is the active and most absorbable form of CoQ10. Ubiquinol not only plays a role in oxygen transport throughout the body and, thus, overall energy production, but also has strong antioxidant power to help minimise free radical activity in the body. In doing so, Ubiquinol is helping to reduce symptoms of fatigue and in turn may give you that much-needed energy boost.

Because of its important role in producing energy, Ubiquinol is concentrated in organs that require the most energy such as the heart, liver, muscles and kidneys. While Ubiquinol is found naturally in the body, it can also be found in some foods, however, one would have to eat an impractical amount of these foods for it to be beneficial. In such a case, your practitioner may recommend supplementing with Ubiquinol to promote energy production in the body.

Eat a Hearty Breakfast

Research has shown that those who eat breakfast are more likely to experience sustained energy levels and a good mood for the entirety of the day. Having something substantial to eat or drink first thing in the morning means that the overnight fasting state your body has just been through is broken. This will kick start your digestive and metabolic processes for the day ahead, meaning that the nutrients that you are taking in via breakfast are absorbed quickly and readily into the body, providing you with a natural energy boost.

There are many breakfast options to consider that may suit your personal taste buds. Some prefer savoury foods in the morning so may enjoy an omelette or some avocado on toast, while those who prefer sweet food in the morning may turn to a LSA (linseed, sunflower and almond mix) topped with fresh, low sugar yogurt and fruit. Drink a green tea as this helps to boost energy also.

Make Water Your Go-To Beverage

We have all heard by now that being hungry can often be mistaken for being dehydrated, however, what you may not have heard is that being dehydrated can often lead to symptoms of lethargy and fatigue. Maintaining hydration throughout the day is important to keep all body processes working at their prime, in particular the energy production pathways. When your body is in a state of dehydration and is craving fluids, drinking a large glass or bottle of water may be your best bet at picking your energy levels up… and keeping them up! Minimising intake of sugary drinks, including soft drinks, anything alcohol-based or even flavoured milks will also help make you feel less sluggish.

IMPORTANT LEGAL INFO This article is of a general nature and FYI only, because it doesn’t take into account your personal health requirements or existing medical conditions. That means it’s not personalised health advice and shouldn’t be relied upon as if it is. Before making a health-related decision, you should work out if the info is appropriate for your situation and get professional medical advice.