Always tired? Energetic tips for an energy efficient life

Energy is essential to life and to all nature’s functions. If you find that your energy levels are not consistent and limit your everyday needs, here are some tips to help you.

Our body is a perfectly built machine that always looks at the most energy efficient ways to keep running. There are many reasons why we could find ourselves on low batteries: poor sleep, poor diet, medication, poor hydration, lack of exercise, stress, alcohol consumption…. the list can go on and on.

So, when you can’t seem to get going in the mornings or suffer from those afternoon energy dips you need to ask yourself why.

Instead of loading up with coffee or sugary snacks we should be looking more closely at our habits.

We should always remember that the body’s natural state of being is one of health and well-being. The good news is that when we do feel below par we can often put ourselves back on track simply by making some basic diet and lifestyle changes.

So here are some simple changes that you can make to keep you firing on all cylinders.

1. Never skip meals! Keep your body fueled. This doesn’t mean consuming large portions of food or eating 5 times a day. It depends on your energy demands and your lifestyle, we are all different, but is important is to keep a routine.

2. Make sure you keep a variety of fresh foods in your kitchen and make sure your plate is full of colourful vegetables: antioxidants are key for our body to regenerate quickly. So think lots of greens such as spinach, kale, broccoli. Brightly coloured vegetables such as beetroot, carrots, peppers, tomatoes. And lots of colourful fruits and berries such as blueberries, raspberries, grapes, redcurrants and blackcurrants.

3. Get plenty of rest. Most people need 7–8 hours per night. Get into the habit of switching off the TV well before bedtime and put down the mobile phones and tablets.

4. Choose a good quality wholefood multi nutrient. If you are pushed for time, if your diet is high in processed foods or if you struggle to get all the nutrients you need from your diet, you could be missing out on vital nutrients.There are many supplements to choose from but ideally you should select a supplement that not only has a full spectrum of vitamins and minerals but also contains plenty of wholefoods. Green superfoods can also be a great way of supporting metabolism, chlorella and spirulliena along with other phytoalgae should be included. Source  is a great option as it includes wholefoods, antioxidants, green super foods, algae, herbal extracts and a complete range of energy boosting vitamins and minerals to keep you energized all day long.

5. Remember, if your body is well nourished it doesn’t ask for sugary or caffeine fuelled fixes. So here are just some of the nutrients that you should include for superfast energy metabolism:

BiotinSources: Avocado, salmon, egg yolk, red meat, nuts and seeds, sweet potatoes.

CalciumSources: Dairy, green leafy vegetables, soya beans, tofu, nuts, fish where you eat bones such as sardines.

CopperSources: Dark chocolate (oh yes!), dried apricots, sunflower seeds, cashews, chickpeas, sesame seeds, lentils, greens.

IodineSources: Seaweed and seafood, dairy, eggs, prunes.

IronSources: Red meat, shellfish, spinach, pumpkin seeds.

MagnesiumSources: Dark chocolate, avocados, nuts, legumes, whole grains, some fish.

ManganeseSources: Tofu, sweet potato, pine nuts, brown rice, chickpeas.

B VitaminsSources: Whole grains, Meat, Eggs, Legumes, nuts and seeds, dark leafy vegetables, fruits.

Vitamin CSources: Broccoli, sprouts, cauliflower, green and red peppers, spinach, tomatoes, citrus fruit, strawberries.

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The information contained in this article is not intended to treat, diagnose or replace the advice of your health practitioner. Make sure you consult a qualified health practitioner if you have a pre-existing health condition or are currently taking medication. Food supplements should not be used as a substitute for a varied and balanced diet.