Lots of people could use an energy boost now and again, and many are on the hunt for ways to increase energy all of the time. This has led to numerous products that purport to naturally increase energy. These include energy drinks, herbal energy supplements, and energy or protein bars. According to most doctors, people are generally better off without these “energy” based products, which typically may only increase energy for a very short time.
Most physicians point to several things to perk up energy and these are not typically hard things to obtain or to do. These include:
- Eating a diet that is moderate but rich in protein, grains, fruit and vegetables
- Drinking plenty of water
- Getting adequate sleep
- Participating in moderate exercise on a regular basis
People can find guidelines for eating a healthy diet through resources like the United States' MyPlate. Although it’s occasionally okay to veer from the healthiest diet in the world, good overall diet tends to make a difference in energy levels. It can also help drop unnecessary weight, which can sap people of energy quite quickly.
Dehydration may lead to low energy and most doctors recommend that people drink eight to ten glasses of water a day to increase energy. It can be difficult to drink this much water at times, and it can help to carry around a large container of water to supply water needs. A container that holds three cups of water is terrific. If people can remember to refill the container three times daily, they’ll easily meet their hydration needs.
Lack of sleep is an energy killer, and one of the quickest ways to increase energy is by making sure to get about eight hours of sleep a night on a regular basis. There are many methods for improving length of sleep or ability to get to sleep, and in some cases, herbal products or even sleep medicines might be needed to help promote better sleep. In general though, most people may lack time to sleep enough, and they’re likely to continue to suffer from low energy without adequate rest at night. Knowing that poor sleep can make people less productive during the day can help prioritize the importance of leaving enough time at night to get a good rest.
Though exercise initially makes people tired, it can help increase energy, especially when undertaken regularly. Doctors recommend that people try to get at least thirty minutes of exercise three times a week. If aerobic work like biking or fast walking seems too hard at first, stretching exercises and things like yoga have also been shown to have a positive impact on energy.
For most people, lack of energy results from poor diet, poor to little exercise, poor sleep or too little hydration, or a combination of several of these things at once. Certainly other people may suffer from medical conditions that create low energy. When a person is truly getting all of the above and still suffers from tiredness or fatigue, he or she should talk to a doctor. Things like low levels of thyroid hormone and conditions like heart disease can make people feel as is they never have enough energy, and these conditions deserve a doctor’s care.
