How to Naturally Energize Your Body by Dr. Mariesette Zeyl, ND
Do you remember your childhood days – waking up in the morning full of vibrant energy, ready to take on the world? Wouldn’t it be nice to feel this way again? As adults, it is all too common to get up out of bed feeling groggy and just plain crummy. You head straight to a coffee shop for your morning cup, and then spend the rest of the day at the office, sitting down. [Read more about the impact long periods of sitting has on your body!] After a full day at work, you return home and eat a bunch of not-so-healthy food while watching TV, sitting on the couch, and probably feeling just as tired as you did in the morning.
How Low Energy Impacts your life and body
Low energy or fatigue is not considered a condition in itself, but a symptom associated with a number of health conditions such diabetes, hypothyroidism, poor circulation, anemia/iron deficiency, allergies, depression, stress and even poor dietary habits. Ultimately, what is responsible for how much energy your body produces is your metabolism. As we age, our daily lifestyle activities do not tend to promote a healthy metabolism. Cellular metabolism is controlled by the powerhouses of the trillions of cells in your body, also known as the mitochondria. The main fuel source for energy production are fatty acids, but they are only able to cross the mitochondrial membrane with help from certain nutrients.
Nutrients critical for the production of energy & optimal functioning of your body and metabolism
Acetyl-l-Carnitine (ALCAR) plays an important role in transporting energy by shuttling fatty acids directly across into the mitochondria to be burned. Supplementation of ALCAR has a powerful antioxidative ability to improve metabolism and reduce both mental and physical fatigue.
Read more about Acetyl-L-Carnitine by clicking here!
Alpha-Lipoic-Acid (ALA) is also a cellular metabolism nutrient. Aside from being the most powerful and versatile of antioxidants, it enhances energy levels. Research indicates ALA can improve energy production and homeostasis, stress response, and reverse energy decline associated with aging.
Read more about Alpha-Lipoic Acid by clicking here!
A vitamin B-Complex is a combination of all of the B vitamins. They are needed to fight off fatigue and for normal brain function, hormone production and conversion of fats, carbohydrates and protein into energy. Specifically, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) is the activated form of the B3 vitamin niacin, which is essential to any living cell’s energy production. NADH is directly responsible for the release of energy within the mitochondria. It is also a powerful antioxidant. With more than one million Americans suffering from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), studies in the management of CFS reported significant reduction in patients’ perception of fatigue with NADH. During exercise, NADH was shown to improve endurance and showed lower oxidative stress.
CoenzymeQ10 (CoQ10, in the active form of Ubiquinol) is an essential nutrient for cellular metabolism. It is typically known for its heart health benefits, but it is essential to creating the spark that ignites the creation of energy. Ubiquinol also acts as a powerful antioxidant as it neutralizes free radicals inside the cell. If you are taking a statin drug, it depletes your body of Ubiquinol, so it can be beneficial to supplement with this invaluable energy creator. In a double-blind, controlled study, Ubiquinol supplementation significantly enhanced peak power production amongst athletes. Another study found that Ubiquinol improved chronic fatigue symptoms in patients suffering from fibromyalgia.
Read more about coenzyme Q10 by clicking here!
Supplementing daily with ALCAR, CoQ10 as Ubiquinol, ALA, a B-complex and NADH are your keys to energizing your body at the cellular level. Other important things to consider when it comes to achieving optimal energy and banishing fatigue are to increase your water intake; even when you are a little bit dehydrated, that can result in feeling tired. Avoid sugar [Here are some tips on how to quit sugar for good!], caffeine, alcohol, white flour products and processed foods – these are known as energy robbers. Include more nuts, seeds, and fresh fruits and vegetables in your diet, especially green leafy vegetables or a greens powder, which can increase vitality and energy. Last but not least, get regular exercise and adequate rest.
For a full list of references, click here!
