{"id":2262,"date":"2022-03-14T11:02:16","date_gmt":"2022-03-14T17:02:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.betternutrition.com\/2015\/07\/01\/7-ways-to-boost-your-energy\/"},"modified":"2022-03-14T12:05:12","modified_gmt":"2022-03-14T18:05:12","slug":"7-ways-to-boost-your-energy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.betternutrition.com\/conditions-and-wellness\/fatigue\/7-ways-to-boost-your-energy\/","title":{"rendered":"7 Ways to Boost Your Energy. Plus, Energy-Boosting Supplements That Actually Work"},"content":{"rendered":"

Fatigue is one of the biggest problems of modern life, but we\u2019re trying to fix that problem in all the wrong ways. Trying to \u201cget\u201d or \u201cfind\u201d energy is like trying to grab a fistful of water. If you want water (energy) to sit in your hand, you have to first create the conditions under which it\u2019s possible\u2014in the case of water, keeping your fingers tightly together and your hand cupped while open will do the trick\u2014but trying to grab the water will not. It\u2019s the same thing with energy.<\/p>\n

Energy isn\u2019t something you get or grab, rather it\u2019s the by-product of certain conditions that allow it to show up in your life. If your health, attitude, body, and mind are all aligned in the right way, there\u2019s nothing else for you to do but feel energized. It\u2019s the natural \u201cside effect\u201d of a healthful life\u2014it just comes with the territory.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s say you were a swimmer wearing a weight belt, and you want to increase your time in the 50-yard freestyle. You could spend a lot of effort researching the latest high-tech swimsuit\u2014which might add a second or two to your time\u2014but wouldn\u2019t it be a lot more effective to simply drop the weight belt? Most of us are carrying around weight belts and looking to increase our energy with coffee and stimulants, but if we just dropped the weight belt, we\u2019d automatically go faster.<\/p>\n

Some of the items that make up our weight belt are too little sleep, disorganization, toxic relationships, high-carb diets, undetected food sensitivities, and all sorts of other facts of modern life that I discuss in detail in my book The 150 Most Effective Ways to Boost Your Energy<\/em>. The following are seven of the most important ways to help drop the weight belt from your energy tank. Do them and you may be surprised at what a boost in energy they give you.<\/p>\n

1. Support Your Liver<\/h2>\n

You can help your liver do its job more effectively\u2014and boost your energy in the bargain\u2014by taking a daily dose of an herb called milk thistle. Also, eat liver-supporting vegetables, such as carrots, beets, beet greens, garlic, artichokes, burdock and dandelion roots. I consider the liver the most misunderstood and underappreciated organ in the human body; when it\u2019s not working correctly, your energy level is the first thing to suffer. Giving the liver all the nutrients it needs to perform its daily tasks is one of the most important things you can do to boost your energy.<\/p>\n

2. Get 10 Minutes of Sun Every Day<\/h2>\n

\u201cThe sun gives you strength, lifts your spirits, and is a source of energy,\u201d says my friend Al Sears, MD, author of Your Best Health Under the Sun<\/em>. Like a growing body of health experts, Sears thinks we\u2019ve become so sun phobic that we\u2019re missing out on the myriad mood-boosting and energy-enhancing benefits that the sunshine vitamin has to offer.<\/p>\n

3. Disconnect for a Day<\/h2>\n

One of the great energy drainers of the 21st century is information overload. We\u2019re deluged with stuff coming at us\u2014 e-mails, social media, Netflix, smartphones\u2014you get the picture. Knowledge may be power, but information overload is just \u2026 well, noise. Try a media-free day, and feel your own energy accumulate rather than letting it dissipate as you attend to millions of distractions, most of which\u2014when you think about it\u2014won\u2019t make much difference in the long run anyway. (If you find the idea of disconnecting for a day is a frightening thought, you are exactly the person who needs to do it the most!)<\/p>\n

Related: Feeling Sluggish and Low on Energy? You’re Probably Missing One of These Key Nutrients<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

4. Try the \u201cNo-Frills, No-Excuses, Anytime-Anywhere\u201d Workout<\/h2>\n

We all know that exercise helps with energy\u2014at least I hope we do\u2014but when it comes to working out, time remains a big obstacle for many people. Here\u2019s my own \u201cno-excuses\u201d low-tech workout that you can do just about anywhere in as little as 15 or 20 minutes for an amazing boost in energy: 1) run a mile; 2) do some squats; 3) do some push-ups; 4) do some crunches; 5) stretch. After that, go about your business refreshed and energized. And if you can\u2019t go out and run the mile, do some jumping jacks in your office.<\/p>\n

5. Revive Your Chi<\/h2>\n
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Acupuncture is based on the precepts of traditional Chinese medicine\u2014that the body and mind are inextricably linked; that vital energy (chi <\/em>or qi<\/em>) regulates a person\u2019s spiritual, mental, and physical health; and that each of us is a delicate balance of opposing and inseparable forces\u2014yin and yang. When that balance is disrupted, vital energy becomes blocked or weakened. When our chi is at optimal levels and flowing smoothly, we\u2019re ready to take on the world\u2014spiritually, emotionally, mentally, and physically\u2014we\u2019re strong, healthy, and energized. One terrific way to balance that energy is through acupuncture.<\/p>\n

6. Unclutter and Deep-Six the Energy Drain<\/h2>\n

Here\u2019s a rule I\u2019ve found to be a universal truth: your energy has a perfect inverse relationship to the accumulation of stuff you don\u2019t need. The more stuff you have cluttering up your life, the less energy you have. Believe it or not, the condition of your closets, desk, office and living space actually reflects a lot of what\u2019s going on in your head. If you take time to organize and unclutter, you\u2019ll be freeing up a lot of psychic space, and that can really turbo-charge your energy.<\/p>\n

7. Take the Right Supplements<\/h2>\n

While supplements don\u2019t really \u201cgive\u201d you energy, they can correct metabolic issues that are draining it. They can also speed certain pathways that are nutrient-dependent and get sluggish when those nutrients are in short supply. At the very least, take a good, high-potency multiple vitamin\/mineral. See below for a round-up of top energizing supplements.<\/p>\n

Energizing Supplements<\/h3>\n

Supplements sold as energy enhancers are a mixed bag. Some are downright dangerous, with potentially harmful levels of ephedra or bitter orange (citrus aurantium<\/em>). Some are just useless. Some actually work. And some may help close some nutritional gaps which, in turn, can clear the way for metabolic pathways to work more smoothly, resulting in more energy and well-being in general. Here are some of the top contenders in the energy supplement marketplace.<\/p>\n

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