THE 5 NUTRIENTS WE NEED TO HAVE MORE ENERGY
The top two things people want in their health journey are to: loose weight and have more energy. There’s no pill or drink that can magically make it happen in a healthy way and for the long term. It’s more about the things we do every day for our health that contribute to our energy or lack of energy. Want to have energy naturally? Here are the 5 essential nutrients we need every day to naturally have more energy.
Water
Even though every health professional talks about the importance of drinking water, most of us don’t drink enough. Water is needed in our body to flush out toxins, and toxins many times are the cause of fatigue. Most of our brain is water, and staying hydrated will help us concentrate and think faster. Drinking water also helps improve digestion, prevents or alleviates headaches and gives us beautiful skin.
Carbs, Proteins and fats
These three macronutrients are essential to our body, and when we’re well nourished, then we have more energy (makes sense,right?). Of course the source of the carbs, protein and fat has to be a healthy one. For example, an apple and a cake are both considered carbs, but one is a good carb and the other is a bad carb. Carbs are going to be the main source of energy and they are basically food for our brain. Proteins nourish our muscles and healthy fats are essential for our hormonal balance.
Supplements
The nutrients we get from our food are not enough. We consume less than ideal portions of fruits and veggies and even if we consume enough, it’s just not possible to get the optimal amounts of nutrients we need. Our soils are depleted of minerals and essential nutrients. If the nutrients are not in the soil, they can’t be in the fruits and veggies, and if they’re not in the fruits and veggies, they can’t be in our body. This is why it’s essential to take a high-quality multivitamin with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.
Exercise/Movement
When we feel tired, the first thing that goes out the window is exercise, which only makes things worst. We don’t exercise because we’re tired, then the lack of exercise makes us even more tired. Our bodies are meant to be moved! A 10-minute workout is better than no workout. Take a walk in the park with your kids, walk to the mailbox, take the stairs, get up from your desk and stretch. These little things help us move in a world that’s becoming more sedentary. Remember: sitting is the new smoking!
Sleep and Rest
Personally, I don’t function well without a good nights sleep, I’m cranky, I can’t concentrate as well and my face looks puffy. I used to think that something was wrong with me because I saw people pulling all-nighters and still function. Now, I’m so thankful that my body communicates to me that rest is a non-negotiable. Sleep is essential for regenerating our cells and organs, it helps speed up our metabolism and when we sleep well, we produce serotonin- the happy hormone. If you don’t sleep 7-9 hours regularly then most likely this is why you have low energy: you’re just tired! Another part is rest. We’re so obsessed with hustling that we forget that our bodies need time to wind down. This doesn’t mean watching TV for hours, that’s not necessarily resting. Resting can be different for each person: it can mean a walk with your pets, journaling, listening to music, calling a friend, stretching. It can be anything that makes your heart sing, something that leaves you feeling re-energized. Choose you rest activity and do it at least once a week—just this one thing has the potential to change your mood, happiness and energy levels.
