In our crazy, non-stop society, there are countless things that can sabotage our energy reserves.
You’re hitting the snooze button on repeat, and spend the day as a walking, talking zombie. You’re chronically exhausted, you’re emotionally taxed out, and you consistently experience mood swings, bursts of anger, frustration and/or tears.
Common “energy-sucks” (as I favourably call them) are as follows…
- Improper or irregular diet (Those who avoid breakfast: TAKE NOTE!)
- Abandonment of exercise ( Endorphins carry energy! USE THEM!)
- Overuse of stimulants – coffee, energy drinks, processed sugar, starchy carbohydrates, etc.
- Lack of sleep (Shoot for 7-8 hours on a regular basis)
- Emotional restraint (suppressing anger, frustration, resentment, anxiety, fear, guilt, sadness, jealousy, etc. requires a lot of energy)
These symptoms can exacerbate (or often times set off) hormonal and endocrine imbalances in the body such as thyroid dysfunction, adrenal insufficiency, menstrual cycle irregularities and diabetes.
Stagnated emotions wreck havoc in our bodies, which trip off alarms in our mind-body. Chemical receptors in the brain such as serotonin and dopamine become depleted and inefficient, while cortisol (our body’s inflammatory response) and norepinephrine (our fight-or-flight stress hormone) gets jacked up to the nines.
“Energy-sucks” create an overly acidic environment in our bodies linked to early onset of disease, rapid-fast aging, hormonal dysfunction, auto-immune disorders and even, cancer. Our bodies prefer a more alkaline environment, which is why supplements like “GREENS” (available in powder and/or liquid form) are so popular. Chemically balancing our body creates a healthy internal system, and calms down the systemic inflammatory response that gets set off by an unhealthy lifestyle.
This might all sound extremely unnerving, especially if you’re already stressed or overwhelmed. Luckily, the solutions are somewhat simple.
Ways to improve your sleep
If you’re lacking in sleep, make it a priority to incorporate more sleep into your routine. Depending on your schedule, 7-8 hours of sleep may not always be achievable, but you should try to get enough sleep on a regular basis. With proper amounts of your sleep, your body can fully recuperate and maintain healthiness.
Try to eat at regular intervals throughout the day. Don’t skip breakfast in the morning, and avoid reaching the point of starvation. Stay hydrated (6-8 glasses a day), reduce caffeine intake (no more than 2-3 cups/day), and incorporate protein into each meal (approximately the size of a deck of cards).
When you’re feeling emotional, talk to someone you love and/or trust. Don’t wait until you’re overwhelmed or distressed; reach out when you need to and utilize your supporting resources. Friends, family, and professionals are a support system, and they’re there to help you feel better (regardless of your situation).
Make a point to spend time with yourself each day. Take 10-15 minutes out of each day to relax and personally work through your feelings or emotions. Dissect your issues, talk out loud, and make a concious effort to let go and move on. If you can’t figure it out alone, go back to your support system.
Incorporate exercise in your daily routine! Exercise acts as a natural energy pack – it kicks starts your metabolism, unleashes feel-good endorphins into your system, and keeps things happy, healthy and efficient!
Avoid allowing your body to become an acidic and systemic breeding ground for disease. Make an honest effort to do all the things above and make sure to include greens in your diet to alkalize the body, bringing it back to its desired homeostatic balance. Incorporate green vegetables like kale, spinach and broccoli; for an extra boost, consider making a trip to your local health food store (I am a MASSIVE fan of Optimum Health:) and pick up a greens supplement powder or a bottle of liquid chlorophyll that you can add to your drinking water. Easy and effective!
Also, give acupuncture a try. Acupuncture works to rebalance imperfect hormonal systems by reducing the body’s response to stress via the adrenal, thyroid, and pituitary glands, as well as hypothalamus in the brain.
Less stress hormones = less cortisol release = less systemic inflammation = a less acidic/ more alkaline internal environment = a happier, healthier you.
Acupuncture also releases your body’s feel-good endorphins. It helps your body resist against stress, anxiety, depression and sluggish feelings, while making you feel more energetic. This mechanism of action also replenishes depleted dopamine and serotonin in the brain, establishing emotional balance and a healthy release of any stagnating, suppressed emotions.
Follow this simple and effective plan, and your energy levels will sky-rocket! Reclaim your energy. Starting TODAY!
