07.23.08

Pooped? Here's How To Wake Up!

I’m tired. You’re tired. We’re all tired. But why? We crank up our adrenals on Starbucks, bust long days at the office, tick off our “To Do” list, and finish with dishes and paying down debt at night. No wonder we’re all pooped. According to a recent article in Harvard Health Publications, fatigue is the number one reason adults stumble through the doctor’s door. So how can you rev up the body naturally?

Doctor Your Diet: According to nutritionist Monique Ryan, author of Sports Nutrition for Endurance Athletes, your diet should:
  • Be Varied: With whole grains, organic proteins, fruits and vegetables, and good fats like olive oil, nuts, and avocados.
  • Include B’s: “Take a multivitamin supplement that contains B vitamins,” advises Monique. B vitamins are a main source of fuel for the brain, help bodies metabolize carbohydrates, and regulate mood (thank god!). Try Nature’s Way Alive! Whole Food Multivitamin to cover what your whole-foods diet may lack. 
  • Lower Your Buzz: “Slowly cut back on your caffeine intake” says Monique. Because caffeine is a diuretic (makes your body expel water), it can strip your body of the calcium you need for strong bones. 
Unplug To Unwind: To control stress (a natural fatigue inducer), turn “off” for at least 30 minutes each day. Whether it’s sitting quietly in a park at lunch (cell turned OFF), peaceful exercise like yoga or tai chi, or practicing a new 10-minute meditation you learned about, well, here!

Exercise Early And Often: A Stanford Medical School study recently linked regular exercise to improved sleep. But because it also causes your body to release hormones that can make you feel energized, don’t work out too close to bedtime or you’ll be buzzing with endorphins.

Here Comes The Sun: Sun gives you energy, plain and simple. If you’re feeling an afternoon slump, walk around the block – you’ll be getting an energy jolt of 1,500 – 100,00 lux (or illumination) of sunlight, compared to the sleepy 400 lux that indoor lighting provides.


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I'm friggin exhausted ALL the time. I need some vitamin B's apparently!
– laxer | 07.23.08 | 10:00 AM