Your physically demanding work may leave you sans energy at the end of the day. Thus you may be deprived of spending quality time with your family and friends. This may compel you to indulge into energy supplements. However the question is that do they really work? Well, it all depends on your expectation levels. If you perceive energy vitamins as fuel tankers to give you the instant ‘get-up-and-go boost’ you might be discouraged with the results. But these can certainly make you feel active and healthy by supplying essential vitamins and minerals.
Types of Supplements for energy:
Supplements with calories:
If on one hand extra calories can spoil your weight loss or body building regime, on the other hand, these can even help to push up your energy levels! High calories energy supplements can provide you with a spurt of energy almost instantly. These generally include energy bars, shakes and power drinks. They are enriched with sugar, minerals and vitamins for satiating your energy needs. Due to their high glycemic index these supplements provide instant energy as soon as they enter your blood stream. Such supplements are suitable for athletes or people involved in strenuous physical activity who cannot always rely on food for energy intake.
Stimulants:
- Caffeine
- Green tea
- Capsaicin in peppers
- Bitter Orange containing synephrine.
All the above supplements stimulate processes which rev up your metabolism and can temporarily increase your alertness levels too. You have been banking upon coffee for late night projects but now green tea is steadily grabbing all the popularity. It is rich in caffeine and a storehouse of antioxidants that can keep your energy levels elevated. Capsaicin is also used in some supplements but its real effects on energy levels are still under investigation. Synephrine, found in bitter orange is a natural energy booster and an alternative to health-threatening ephedrine that was long used as energy booster until its harmful effects were revealed.
Supplements that regulate Energy Metabolism:
- Coenzyme Q10
- Creatine, carnitine, and amino acids like taurine, tyrosine and phenylalanine.
- Vitamin B complex.
Creatine and carnitine work to replenish the energy fuel of the cell-ATP. This pumps up your energy levels my many folds. Coenzyme Q10 is naturally found in every cell to provide energy. This may be found in large quantities in organs requiring more ATP. If you have sufficient amount of these molecules in your body, taking more will not make you spin like a top but will be useless. However, for people who are running low in carntine, creatine or CoQ10, these energy supplements may be helpful.
You can add lots of vitamin rich foods to your meals to escape from having vitamin supplements. But if your diet fails to meet your demands, you may have to go to your doctors for some energy pills.
Alter your lifestyle and be energized
Come on, your great grandparents were more active than without energy pills. So why not try some conventional methods to perk up your life:
Energize with exercise:
If you think over exertion is unhealthy for you, sedentary lifestyle is equally bad! So, don’t sit back and work out. Indulge in any form of exercise you like as this will play a major role to lift up your energy threshold. Want proof? Consider sport persons who are always high in energy because of their capacity to work out heavily. You may need to push yourself to exercise at first but you will certainly start enjoying it as you progress. So, shun excuses and have fun with exercises.
Nibble up some nuts:
Nuts are loaded with proteins, sugars and other nutrients that can raise your energy supply at the time of need. The trick is to keep your pockets stuffed with nuts like almonds, raisins or walnuts to help you gain instant energy when you are drop dead tired!
Sleep like a baby!
This may be easy to say, but some people have major issues with sleeping. They just can’t get enough sleep. This is a common reason for drooping energy levels. So if you feel more fatigued these days, you may be compromising with your sleep. Your body needs to take enough rest and lack of sleep is detrimental for physical as well as mental health. A good hot bath and hot glass of milk at bed time can act as excellent sleep inducers.
Eat Right:
A healthy diet is a natural energy booster. If you are particular about what you eat, you are most unlikely to face any energy crunch. Your diet must include generous amount of whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts, dairy and poultry products. Along with this you also need adequate amount of essential fats through fish and vegetable oils. So eat well as good food is all you need to produce ample of energy.
If you still want to consider taking energy supplements, go ahead and try out a range of energy boosters available but don’t forget to consult your doctor first.