Every day it seems like our days are getting busier, and that time is going by faster and faster.
Sleep and stress management are two of the biggest pieces of our overall health that we tend to throw away first. For some reason, we tend to live under the illusion that we can just keep working and ignoring the need to sleep.
Running away from sleep long enough though is like driving a car without getting the oil changed or filling it up with gas. You can only run on empty for so long before your car gives out.
Now, we totally understand that there are some days, weeks, and months that you aren’t going to sleep a lot, so you tend to reach for other forms of instant or quick energy to get you through the day.
That usually comes in the form of:
- Snacks
- Sodas
- Candy bars
- Other foods that are high in sugar
- Lattes
- Mochas
- Fun coffee drinks
- Energy drinks
These may taste good in the moment, but most of them are going to cause you to crash and burn within a couple of hours of consuming them. Today, we are going to give you the keys to some natural forms of sippable energy that won’t cause you to crash and burn after you drink them.
1) Kombucha
Just in case you aren’t familiar with Kombucha, it is a fermented tea that is extremely rich in probiotics that increase the amount of healthy bacteria living in your gut, which aids with digestion and nutrient absorption.
Kombucha is essentially the combination of brewed tea with a combination of the right yeast bacteria.
That may sound a little scary at first, but it is only rich fermented tea and healthy bacteria which is going to produce enzymes, amino acids, and vitamins that are vital to increase energy production and energy efficiency.
So if you need a boost, kombucha can be one of the first natural energy boosters that you can reach for. You can also buy kombucha kits so that you can brew your own at home.
2) Coconut Water
The coconut water trend has caught on, and now it seems like everyone from your neighbors to A-list celebrities are stocking their refrigerators with coconut water.
Think of coconut water as your all natural sports drink. You can totally replace your sports drinks and all of the sugar and electrolytes that they contain with the natural vitamins and minerals (including potassium) that will give you energy and recharge your system.
The simplest way that you can find coconut water is in grocery stores. If you want to get the water directly from the coconut, young Thai coconuts are actually some of the most nutrient dense coconuts that you can find.
3) B Vitamins
B vitamin isn’t loaded with caffeine or sugar, but it is the vitamin in the body that is responsible producing energy and metabolic functioning. You can find vitamin B added to a lot of natural energy drinks that you can find in the grocery store, and you can also take B vitamin complexes and B-12 as an oral capsule or pill.
4) Acai Berries
Acai berries are another powerful health food that has really exploded onto the scene of natural energy enhancers. Acai berries and acai beverages are loaded with valuable, energy-packed with B vitamins, fatty acids, potassium and proteins. If you are looking for the best acai drink for giving you energy throughout the day, make sure that acai berries are one of the first ingredients listed on the label. The higher the ingredient is on the list, the higher the concentration it is in your beverage. Also, you will want to make sure that there is a low amount of sugar in what you are drinking, so that you don’t suffer from a sugar buzz and crash later.
5) Smoothies
Smoothies are another great way to get a solid, natural, nutritional energy boost without downing an energy drink. Some of the best ingredients that you can throw into your smoothies for high energy are:
- Strawberries
- Blueberries
- Raspberries
- Bananas
- Coconut water
- Almond milk
- Coconut milk
- Wheatgrass
- Peanut butter or almond butter
- Avocado
Berries are loaded with valuable antioxidants and are naturally low in sugar. The coconut water, almond milk, or coconut milk (unsweetened) will provide a tasty, natural base for your smoothie. The healthy fats like the nut butters and avocado will provide natural energy for the body, as will the wheat-grass.
6) Juicing
Having a juicer in your home is another great way to give your body a natural energy boost of wholesome nutrition. Here are some of the fruits and vegetables that we would recommend for maximum energy.
- Carrots
- Beets
- Cucumber
- Lemon or lime
- Oranges
- Celery
- Spinach
- Granny Smith Apples
- Kale
Don’t be freaked out by the greens and the bitter taste. They will be easily covered by the the flavor of the apples and citrus.
7) PureLYFT
PureLYFT is made from energy rich green coffee beans, a little bit of stevia for sweetness, and then a lot of B and A complex vitamins. It is a clean green energy that you can add to just about anything that you are drinking, via the portable stir-stick form that you buy them in.
What do you Reach for When You Need a Boost?
These are our go to products when we need that extra boost of energy but we want to know what you do? Hit us up on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram and let us know.