Energy beyond a can.

by: AndreaDow
Total views: 1193
Word Count: 448

Coffee, Red Bull, Diet Coke, Mountain Dew are all marketed as energy in a can, but are they the best for your body? I think we all know the answer is no. Over time, these beverages can wreak havoc on your body, mind and health. A recent article published in Real Simple magazine spotlights some great ideas on how we can get more energy.

1. Drink 6-8 glasses of water per day -- contrary to popular belief, you can count soda as a beverage even though it has diuretic properties (of course, not as healthy as water). There also can be a substantial amount of water in certain foods such as soup. Try to avoid consuming all your caffeine at the beginning of the day. Limit yourself to a cup in the morning and 1/2 cup after lunch. Consider green tea, which has a calming property to offset its caffeine levels and is loaded with antioxidants.

2. Go outside ... summer is here! Get out of the house and smell the fresh air. Amazingly, you can spend a couple hours outside and lower your blood pressure and stress hormones.

3. Cast your worries aside. Our bodies excrete extra cortisol (stress hormone) that can make it hard to fall asleep and also drain our energy. Try setting aside a specific 10 minutes of day to think about all your worries. This way you can dedicate the majority of your day to positive thoughts.

4. Exercise. You can receive substantial benefits from only 30 minutes a day three times a week!

5. Have fun -- do something you love such as watching a funny movie, going to a comedy show, listening to music, knitting or dancing. Anything you love will help to release endorphins (the same feel good hormones released during exercise- runner’s high is not dedicated to runner’s alone).

6. Eat consistently. Consider eating three smaller meals and snacks in between meals. Avoid waiting more than four hours between eating and keep your lunch smaller if you feel the afternoon "food coma" strike between 2 and 3 p.m. Always eat complex carbohydrates, some protein and a little bit of fat at each meal/snack.

7. Take on a new adventure. Whenever we try something new, our brains get a rush. Skydiving anyone?

8. Breathe deeply. Take slower, deeper and more regular breaths. Avoid shallow chest breathing and feel breath moving into your front, side and back of the ribcage as opposed to just the front ribs and chest. Even 5-10 minutes of dedicated deep breathing can dramatically alter your mood and stress level.

Rating: 5.00