Energy Blogs...
Energy maintenance. In many ways, we control our energy production. If our bodies are out of balance, the first thing that goes is our ability to sustain energy. We are like a battery wearing out. The list is too extensive to list all of the reasons that our bodies become depleted of energy. Illnesses cause energy depletion, as do toxins in the system. Illness and toxins aside, I am going to focus on how we can try to improve energy. A few things that we can try to do on a daily basis to maintain energy levels include exercise, socialize, be passionate about something, and of course, get the nutrients that our bodies need.
* Exercise - it may seem like this would deplete our energies, but as long as the thyroid and adrenal glands are not taxed (or you are not suffering from an illness), exercise will relieve stress and create more energy for the system.
* Socialize - we are social beings. Everyone needs time to recharge, but we gain energy from being with others. Sitting in front of the TV actually depletes energy. If you find yourself becoming more and more introverted, your hormones may be out of balance. Make an effort to connect with others, and see what that does to your energy level. (Sometimes large groups can be energy depleting, so start small if you haven't socialized in a while).
* Find a passion - it is proven that the longest living people have a passion that energizes them. Have you ever done something enjoyable that causes you to lose track of time and you don't tire from it? It doesn't have to be a "save the world" kind of passion. It could be gardening, walking, swimming, reading, babysitting - you name it. I heard the other day that if you don't know what your passion is, take a week and write down everything that you enjoy doing, and the things that you don't like doing and see where the patterns are. Do you love being in nature, being with others, cleaning - whatever it is, try to incorporate more of what you love into your day.
* Finally - Nutrition - if your blood sugars are off (eating to many empty carbs and sugars), you will have many energy ups and downs during the day. Caffeine will definitely give you an up, but then you need more to keep going. Caffeine will also stress the adrenals, leading to other health issues. If you are not giving your body the nutrients it needs to keep going (think of your car and its need for gas and oil) over time, your energy will begin to deplete.
One last tip - get your vitamin D from the sun. Get out in the sun each day for a while without sunscreen (avoid sunburn). Our bodies need vitamin D for health, and we are so depleted because we are afraid of the sun. My next topic is one that I talk about a lot - food intolerances.
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I am reading the book The 150 Most Effective Ways to Boost Your Energy by Jonny Bowden, Ph.D, C.N.S. This is the time of year when some of these tips can be very helpful. The days are getting shorter and the to do list is getting longer with the holidays. A side benefit of boosting energy during the day is that we tend to sleep better at night. Some of the following tips are obvious, but good reminders during the holiday season.
* Eat real food
* Cut back on sugar and high fructose corn syrup (I know this is a tough time of year, but not impossible).
* Don't add salt to your food - try new spices - hot peppers help to boost energy.
* Get a massage or go to the chiropractor to help balance the system
* Exercise
* Hang out with people you enjoy
* Take probiotics (this can help keep you healthy this season, also)
* Get organized - clutter and disorganization zaps energy
* Do what you love
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I heard on the news today that January 25th has been proven to be the most depressing day of the year - so the way I see it, we are on the upswing to feeling more positive, and with spring right around the corner our moods should improve! Last week I had listed some of the major stressors that are listed in the book "The Core Balance Diet" by Marcelle Pick, MSN. The author of this book also lists what she considers to be the "Truly Toxic Ten" - the things that weaken our systems and keep us from feeling our best. There are different versions of this list, and obviously there are more than ten things that can damage our health, but this is a good starting point:
* Recreation drugs/narcotics
* Tobacco/Nicotine
* Trans fats
* Artificial sugars/sweeteners- sucralose (Splenda), aspartame, acesulfame- K, sarrharine, mannitol, and sorbitol.
* Refined sugars - sucrose, fructose, maltose, dextrose, maltodextrin, polydextrose, corn syrup and high-fructose corn syrup.
* Chemical additives- artificial coloring, emulsifiers, thickeners, nitrates, monosdium glutamate (MSG), and preservatives.
* Alcohol
* Over-the-counter medications= pain relievers, antihistamines, cough syrups, cold remedies and so on.
* Caffeine
* Too many prescription medications (never go off prescription medications unless advised by your physician)
This is a list that is not easy to change overnight, but it is worth taking steps to make small changes over time. It is important to read ingredient lists to fully understand how many of the above items (plus salt) that we are getting in our diet. The more whole foods that we eat, the easier it is on our bodies to digest and process.
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* Exercise - it may seem like this would deplete our energies, but as long as the thyroid and adrenal glands are not taxed (or you are not suffering from an illness), exercise will relieve stress and create more energy for the system.
* Socialize - we are social beings. Everyone needs time to recharge, but we gain energy from being with others. Sitting in front of the TV actually depletes energy. If you find yourself becoming more and more introverted, your hormones may be out of balance. Make an effort to connect with others, and see what that does to your energy level. (Sometimes large groups can be energy depleting, so start small if you haven't socialized in a while).
* Find a passion - it is proven that the longest living people have a passion that energizes them. Have you ever done something enjoyable that causes you to lose track of time and you don't tire from it? It doesn't have to be a "save the world" kind of passion. It could be gardening, walking, swimming, reading, babysitting - you name it. I heard the other day that if you don't know what your passion is, take a week and write down everything that you enjoy doing, and the things that you don't like doing and see where the patterns are. Do you love being in nature, being with others, cleaning - whatever it is, try to incorporate more of what you love into your day.
* Finally - Nutrition - if your blood sugars are off (eating to many empty carbs and sugars), you will have many energy ups and downs during the day. Caffeine will definitely give you an up, but then you need more to keep going. Caffeine will also stress the adrenals, leading to other health issues. If you are not giving your body the nutrients it needs to keep going (think of your car and its need for gas and oil) over time, your energy will begin to deplete.
One last tip - get your vitamin D from the sun. Get out in the sun each day for a while without sunscreen (avoid sunburn). Our bodies need vitamin D for health, and we are so depleted because we are afraid of the sun. My next topic is one that I talk about a lot - food intolerances.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I am reading the book The 150 Most Effective Ways to Boost Your Energy by Jonny Bowden, Ph.D, C.N.S. This is the time of year when some of these tips can be very helpful. The days are getting shorter and the to do list is getting longer with the holidays. A side benefit of boosting energy during the day is that we tend to sleep better at night. Some of the following tips are obvious, but good reminders during the holiday season.
* Eat real food
* Cut back on sugar and high fructose corn syrup (I know this is a tough time of year, but not impossible).
* Don't add salt to your food - try new spices - hot peppers help to boost energy.
* Get a massage or go to the chiropractor to help balance the system
* Exercise
* Hang out with people you enjoy
* Take probiotics (this can help keep you healthy this season, also)
* Get organized - clutter and disorganization zaps energy
* Do what you love
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I heard on the news today that January 25th has been proven to be the most depressing day of the year - so the way I see it, we are on the upswing to feeling more positive, and with spring right around the corner our moods should improve! Last week I had listed some of the major stressors that are listed in the book "The Core Balance Diet" by Marcelle Pick, MSN. The author of this book also lists what she considers to be the "Truly Toxic Ten" - the things that weaken our systems and keep us from feeling our best. There are different versions of this list, and obviously there are more than ten things that can damage our health, but this is a good starting point:
* Recreation drugs/narcotics
* Tobacco/Nicotine
* Trans fats
* Artificial sugars/sweeteners- sucralose (Splenda), aspartame, acesulfame- K, sarrharine, mannitol, and sorbitol.
* Refined sugars - sucrose, fructose, maltose, dextrose, maltodextrin, polydextrose, corn syrup and high-fructose corn syrup.
* Chemical additives- artificial coloring, emulsifiers, thickeners, nitrates, monosdium glutamate (MSG), and preservatives.
* Alcohol
* Over-the-counter medications= pain relievers, antihistamines, cough syrups, cold remedies and so on.
* Caffeine
* Too many prescription medications (never go off prescription medications unless advised by your physician)
This is a list that is not easy to change overnight, but it is worth taking steps to make small changes over time. It is important to read ingredient lists to fully understand how many of the above items (plus salt) that we are getting in our diet. The more whole foods that we eat, the easier it is on our bodies to digest and process.
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