Not many of us can say that we do not suffer from the occasional mid-afternoon slump. Many of us struggle to somehow magically find a second wind once the children are in bed, so that we can complete work from the office or something that needs to be done around the house. In many of these situations, the option is often to just procrastinate, and put tasks on the back burner since we are just too tired.
Even if you are diligent about getting your eight hours of sleep a night, sometimes you just need something to perk you up a bit, and get you through the day. Many of the sleep and energy regimens out there are dangerous, and you will want something that will be safe and effective, and not to leave you with a headache or the jitters. All too often, people will rely on diet sodas and coffee to give them a jolt; however, there are other, healthier alternatives available. Caffeine, in limited doses, is a safe and very effective way to combat fatigue, which is evidenced by the Starbucks and Dunkin’ Donuts phenomenon that has taken morning routines all over the United States. Unfortunately, people rely far too heavily on products like these that are not good for us in many ways.
Another option, green tea, can increase your alertness and combat fatigue while also being very good for you. Green tea not only helps you be more alert and awake, with limited caffeine and a lot of great polyphenols and catechins, but these added properties also help to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. The antioxidants found in green tea can help fight free radicals, and claims have been made that it can help aid weight loss efforts, combat heart disease, and help with bone density. Drinking green tea consistently over time helps keep your energy at optimum levels, so feel free to enjoy this supplement as often as you wish.
Ginseng is another great supplement for energy. Ginseng can be found in two different types, one being Panax ginseng, and the other being Siberian ginseng. Many people believe that ginseng is only found in the Panax species, and that Siberian ginseng is not natural. Siberian ginseng is actually a different plant also known as eleuthero, which has been known to be beneficial in increasing energy levels. Another root plant, called American ginseng, is not as widely known because it is not as beneficial as the other two. If you want the best results over time, try to stick with Panax since it is known to help increase blood supply and circulation, which in turns provides more energy throughout the body.
B Vitamins play a very important role in our body’s ability to fight stress and to maintain good energy levels. The best bet to ensure that you are getting a good amount of B vitamins is to take a B-complex to give you the full spectrum of vitamins in one capsule. B-12 is especially well-known for a quick increase in energy when taken orally, and some people even get B-12 injections from their physician for this and a multitude of other reasons. However, you will find great results from combining your B-vitamins and not just limiting yourself to the B-12. B- vitamins are all water-soluble vitamins that help in cell metabolism. Some of the “B’s,” such as B9, is better known as folic acid, and are vital for women who are of child bearing age.
Be certain not to fall prey to any of the marketers out there in the supplement world who try to get you to buy ‘energy pills’ or ‘fat burners’ for energy. These supplements will certainly keep you awake, but they can be very dangerous to your body. They are usually comprised of great amounts of caffeine and other substances that can leave a person quite alert, but also quite irritable, edgy, and jittery. While you may get that sudden burst of energy you are looking for, you are also almost certain to crash when the pills wear off, and feel worse than you did before you took the supplement. A few years ago, the federal government took a pill off the market called ephedrine, which was initially used for people with asthma as a bronchodilator, and ended up being a very powerful stimulant that people were using as a fat burner to lose weight. It was dangerous enough that some people who overused this drug died. There is no reason to take a chance like that with this, or any other supplement, merely to help yourself combat fatigue.
It is a much better idea to take healthy, herbal, vitamin, or mineral supplements that can be combined with your healthy diet, good exercise, and sleep habits. It may take a bit longer than the ‘quick fix’ that is also more dangerous, but once you have established a routine with your supplements you will be glad that you took the time to find natural and healthy alternatives to increasing your energy levels.
Even if you are diligent about getting your eight hours of sleep a night, sometimes you just need something to perk you up a bit, and get you through the day. Caffeine, in limited doses, is a safe and very effective way to combat fatigue. Green tea not only helps you be more alert and awake, with limited caffeine and a lot of great polyphenols and catechins. It is a much better idea to take healthy, herbal, vitamin, or mineral supplements that can be combined with your healthy diet, good exercise, and sleep habits.
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