I was reading an article today on preventdisease.com regarding another reason that we should all stay away from energy drinks. The article is titled Sports and Energy Drinks Cause Irreversible Damage To Tooth Enamel and refers to a recent study published in General Dentistry that “found that an alarming increase in the consumption of sports and energy drinks, especially among adolescents, is causing irreversible damage to teeth.” Just like soda, these drinks have a high level of acidity that erode the tooth enamel. You can follow the link above to the article for further information.
How Can We Increase Energy Naturally?
Increasing energy is something that we all are trying to do at one time or another. Whether it is that hour after lunch, or first thing in the morning to get going. We all have different reasons for being tired. There are many ways to increase energy naturally without the use of chemical-laden energy drinks or caffeinated beverages including soda.
First of all, drink more filtered water. Yes filtered! You want to filter out the chlorine in your water. In fact just this morning on the news, there was a story about how locally here in Grand Junction, CO, there has been an increase in the slime that builds up in the water pipes and it is bacterial. In order to fight this, they perform high pressure water flushes and increase the chlorine. I don’t know about you, but I am glad I am filtering the drinking water that I and my family consumes. You can filter your water at home for pennies a gallon, fill and take along a water bottle each day, instead of paying high costs for bought bottled water.
Second, get more sleep and good quality sleep. Well of course we have all heard this one, and if you are like myself, this is not always possible. I have an eight month old that still wakes up every 2-3 hours during the night, so my sleep is very interrupted and not great. But there are some things you can do if you are not a great sleeper. Set the environment. Make sure the temperature is not to warm in your room. Block out light and turn off the TV. A diffuser with lavender essential oil also creates a more restful environment. Other remedies include chamomile tea, tryptophan, 5-HTP, valerian, and skullcap.
Third, regular exercise. Again, in a perfect world we would all love to exercise and have time to exercise everyday. But in reality this is not always true. Therefore, even a walk after dinner around the neighborhood is better for you than watching TV. Find and schedule some time everyday.
Fourth, limit how much coffee and soda you drink throughout the day. One or two cups in the morning is okay. But then you should replace with filtered water. You will feel healthier and have more energy. Water also helps to suppress appetite so you are less likely to hit the vending machine mid-afternoon.
Other energy boosters include eating more frequently throughout the day. Instead of three big meals, eat six to eight small meals for sustained energy. It is also important to not to try to do to much. Being jam packed full of activity all day does not allow you to eat right or to exercise. Take a look at what is really important, and eliminate activities that are not necessary.
Eliminate Energy Drinks
Energy drinks contain 20-30 grams of sugar per serving. And keep in mind that most energy drinks have 2-3 servings per can. Even the sugar-free energy drinks are loaded with artificial sweetners which are chemicals that may cause cancer and other disease processes when consumed in high amounts.
According to the American Heart Association (AHA), “Surveys have also found that the average American consumes around 22.2 teaspoons of added sugar every day. According to the new guidelines, we should really be eating a fraction of that amount. The recommended sugar intake for adult women is 5 teaspoons (20 grams) of sugar per day, for adult men, it’s 9 teaspoons (36 grams) daily, and for children, it’s 3 teaspoons (12 grams) a day.”
So 1 serving of 1 energy drink would be your entire recommended intake of sugar for the day. And our children are a huge consumer of energy drinks, and their recommended sugar intake is only 12 grams. Now think about all the other foods and drinks you consume throughout the day. Add up your sugar intake. You will be shocked.
Sugar and caffeine are poor energy boosters. It is not a good idea to rely upon these items for energy. “Sugar can give you a temporary energy boost, but when that “high” wears off, you may become even sleepier and slower to react, according to a 2006 study from England’s Loughborough University.” Be informed and make a commitment to yourself today to stop reaching for the “quick fix.” Boost your energy levels naturally.
If you enjoyed this article and found the information helpful, please share below on Facebook. How do you boost your energy naturally? Share what works for you in the comments section below.
P.S. Lavender essential oil has many benefits including emotional balance, skin health, cardiovascular health, and improved sleep. Find a highly efficient diffuser and 100% pure essential lavender oil here.
