Feeling drained and sluggish is something that affects many of us, but by nurturing your body’s energy systems, you can invigorate your vitality and boost your personal energy. An added bonus? It’ll improve your longevity.
What Should You Know About Vitality?
While you might think vitality is an isolated issue, there are actually multiple energetic systems that contribute to your overall energy level and sense of well-being. Ancient medical practices such as traditional Chinese medicine have thorough understandings of these systems and recognize vitality as a manifestation of longevity.
Kidney-Adrenal Energy
The “kidney essence” system is a primary system for maintaining vitality. This aspect of the body is highly sensitive to your genetic inheritance, and certain people are born with more energy than others. Western medicine and naturopathy view this system as centered in adrenal function and the balance between cortisol, adrenalin and other adrenal hormones, as well as various sex hormones, like testosterone, estrogen, and progesterone. Compounds that benefit the kidney and adrenal system also tend to increase sexual energy. These include Korean ginseng, the medicinal mushrooms cordyceps and reishi, several B vitamins, and astragalus.
Mitochondrial Energy
Another vitality system involves the energy produced by mitochondria, small structures contained in each cell. The function of our cellular mitochondria determines how we use the oxygen we consume as we breathe and how much energy we can extract from our food (reliant on the efficiency of our digestive system). Supplements that contribute to this type of energy include those beneficial for digestion, such as digestive enzymes, probiotics, and herbs that increase digestive “fire” or metabolism. Other beneficial botanicals and nutrients in this category include those that especially support and enhance mitochondrial energy systems.
Powerful Circulation
A healthy circulatory system is crucial for promoting energy and vitality. Herbs and nutrients that create movement in the body naturally benefit energy levels and also boost mental function. One of the most effective blends is the Tibetan formula Padma Basic. This herbal combination includes a synergistic combination of 19 powerful botanicals prized for their ability to increase circulation, boost immunity, support antioxidant activity, and promote healthy responses to inflammation.
Eating for Vitality
A poor diet creates imbalances that leave you suffering from low energy throughout the day. The good news is that the right dietary changes and supplementation can significantly increase your energy level, sometimes in just a few days.
A nutrient-dense, balanced diet with energy-boosting foods and supplements increases natural vitality by improving digestion, balancing blood sugar, supporting circulation, reducing inflammation, and nourishing cellular mitochondrial function. If your energy levels have dipped due to a hormone imbalance, a healthy diet combined with vitality-boosting supplements can help balance hormone metabolism while improving overall health and energy levels.
Many people are also gluten-sensitive and experience varying degrees of fatigue after eating gluten-containing foods. Sugar is another ingredient known to drastically deplete energy and vitality, creating inflammation and causing damage to cell mitochondrial systems. If you find yourself consuming foods that rob your energy, follow them with a high-fiber snack and lots of water to help flush harmful ingredients from your system.
The Importance of Breakfast
One in four Americans skip breakfast, leaving them sluggish and fatigued throughout the day. People who skip breakfast also tend to have higher cortisol and cholesterol levels, making them more susceptible not only to fatigue but also to developing heart disease and metabolic conditions.
It is vital to start your day with a healthy breakfast and hydrate yourself with 2-3 cups of water early in the morning to replace the significant amount of fluids lost during the night. Chronic dehydration contributes greatly to reduced energy levels. You could also try an alkalizing glass of hot water with lemon before breakfast to compensate for the body’s acid buildup in the morning. This also helps cleanse your system.
Quinoa and buckwheat are two gluten-free grains that can energize the body and provide numerous benefits as part of a healthy breakfast. Adding blueberries or other berries provides additional antioxidant protection and flavor. A nutritious shake made with fresh fruit, greens, and concentrated whey protein is also an excellent morning meal that provides balanced energy and an abundance of nutrients.
Keep Snacks Handy
Between meals, eating nutrient-dense snacks helps boost energy and balance metabolism. Snacks like fresh apples and bananas are high in vitamin C, antioxidants, and fiber, as well as other vitamins, minerals, and carbohydrates that supply a quick energy boost. Eating small servings of raw, high-protein walnuts, hazelnuts, Brazil nuts, or pecans provides a healthy source of potassium, magnesium, iron, calcium, fiber, vitamin B, vitamin E, and thiamine to keep you satisfied and sustain your energy levels.
Medicinal Mushrooms
Certain medicinal mushrooms, such as reishi, cordyceps, and maitake, can provide powerful support for energy and immune enhancement. MycoPhyto Complex is an example of an effective mushroom formula that blends a combination of six medicinal mushrooms including those mentioned, together with beta-glucans, grown indoors in the United States on a substrate of energy/immune-enhancing herbs.
Botanicals and Nutrients
Stress, free radicals, and toxins can damage the mitochondria’s ability to turn nutrients into energy and hinder optimal cellular function. Certain herbs and botanicals, such as Siberian ginseng, support mitochondrial activity and protect these microscopic energy-generators from harm. Ginseng also naturally relaxes blood vessels, increasing oxygen delivery to cells throughout the body to naturally boost energy, without a crash.
Tai Chi and Qi Gong
These time-honored Eastern health practices are a comprehensive system of mind-body exercises that combine movement, deep breathing, and meditation. Their benefits include increased oxygenation, decreased stress, improved circulation, stronger immunity, and improved digestion. As their popularity spreads in the West, even more people are reporting a feeling of balanced energy, clarity, and increased well-being after just one session.
Seasonal Cleanse
A gentle body cleanse during the spring and fall can help detoxify health-robbing toxins and heavy metals and improve digestive capacity for increased overall energy. The noticeable results of gentle detoxification often include a significant increase in vital energy, improved mental clarity, and balanced well-being.
Getting adequate rest, practicing stress relief, eating a healthy diet, exercising, and taking energy-boosting supplements all play important roles in supporting and maintaining energy and vitality. These key strategies not only increase overall vitality, strength, and stamina, but also support and protect your long-term wellness, giving you the energy to spend doing things that bring you joy and naturally give birth to even more energy!
