How to Gain Extra Energy
As a Registered Holistic Nutritionist I am always looking for more ways to include nutrient dense, alkalizing greens into my life. Due to excess stress; whether imagined or real, we feel the effects of stress on every level. Stress effects us mentally and emotionally from our fast-paced lives and demands or through the food choices we make and the products we take – our bodies tend to be much more acidic than alkaline.
Why can being more acidic cause issues? Acid craves acid. When you wake in the morning your body is in one of its most acidic states from just having buffered and “cleaned” up your organs and major body systems. Have you ever noticed that your morning urine is your darkest of the day or may have a stronger smell first thing? That’s because your body has been working hard while you rest during the night to break up any internal fuzz, to neutralize toxins and to help burn up and slough off any leftover debris from the day previous so that when you wake your body can feel refreshed and renewed to begin the day. The problem being is that when you wake in this acidic state your body craves more acidic foods as well; stimulants such as caffeine, sugar and simple carbohydrates.
By working with your diet and lifestyle you can help to fill the nutrient gaps being too acidic would cause and instead ensure that you are giving your body a solid foundation for optimal health. A great place to begin is slightly tweaking your morning routine. Try to begin your day with something that is more alkaline and can help to neutralize the body’s acidic state.
Here are my top 3 tips for starting the day of right:
- Enjoy a mug of warm water and fresh lemon juice first thing. Lemon is very alkalizing for our blood, our digestive system and enhances our enzymatic ability to break down our food throughout the day. It also has the ability to change your palate and decrease your cravings for caffeine and sugar first things or at the very least have you drinking less of it.
- Dandy Blend Elixir: Tbsp. Dandy Blend which is dandelion root (found in the coffee tea section in a health food store) Tsp. turmeric, ½ tsp. cinnamon, Tbsp. of either coconut oil or MCT oil, tbsp coconut milk creamer, hot water and mix. Dandelion is fantastic to support the liver, turmeric to reduce inflammation and the effects of cortisol and cinnamon for your blood sugar regulation plus a healthy dose of good fats. This is an excellent choice to help stimulate the bowels first thing as well.
Lastly, but truly my FIRST choice if energy is an issue in the morning and your trying to break your coffee or latte addiction is to use Genuine Health Greens+ Extra Energy! I absolutely LOVE this product anytime of the day but there is something about consuming a glass of greens first thing in the morning that is so powerful and can truly set your body up for fantastic balance throughout the day. You see by adding more greens your going to kick-start the amount of phyto-nutrients you are supplying your body, boost your immune system, build strong bones, balance your ph, support your heart, your mind and your digestive health too. Plus the natural energy booster Kola Nut in this product is not going to over-stimulate you or rev you up. It is an excellent choice for someone looking to kick their coffee habit and one of my “secret’s when working with shift-workers and those dealing with fatigue.
So if your energy levels have been feeling low; your waking with aches, pain and stiffness before you even step out of bed and your body feels a little too acidic with cravings through the roof; try some of my suggestions above and let me know how it goes!
I always love hearing from you at jenn@jennpike.com