Natural Ways to Boost Energy
You’re halfway through your morning, and you’ve already run out of energy. Before you race to the coffee machine, have you ever considered that there are other ways to boost energy?
One such method is natural energy supplements. Did you know that mushrooms can act as one such supplement?
In this article, we’ll discuss everything there is to know about natural energy supplements, both the pill and fungi kind.
How to Get Energy Without Caffeine
Before we get into natural supplements, let’s discuss the usual recommendations for boosting energy.
Exercise Daily
Exercising more to boost energy may seem counterintuitive, but hear us out here.
One of the reasons people can get tired is a lack of endurance. If you don’t have enough endurance, most forms of physical activity will leave you exhausted afterwards. Even seemingly simple activities like vacuuming or mowing the lawn can have this effect.
By regularly exercising, you build up muscle strength and boost your endurance. As well, more oxygen and nutrients will be sent to your cardiovascular system and, subsequently, improve your heart and lung health. With these combined factors, you’ll have more energy to tackle whatever activities the day throws your way.
Eat a Balanced Diet
Eating a diet filled with junk food is a common cause for lacking energy. This is because your body doesn’t have enough nutrients to keep functioning at optimal levels.
Try filling your diet with protein-rich foods, whole grains, leafy greens, and fruits. The protein and whole grains take longer to digest, so you’ll have an energy source for longer. Meanwhile, leafy greens and fruits can give you the nutrients your body needs to thrive.
Of course, you can eat the occasional treat, like chocolate or chips, but make sure it’s not the majority of what you eat.
Drink Enough Water
We’re made up of about 60% water, so it’s not surprising that we need to drink a lot of water every day. The problem is that many people don’t drink enough water.
Dehydration is when your body loses more fluids than it's taking in. Symptoms of dehydration include fatigue, dizziness, and extreme thirst.
To prevent dehydration, make sure to drink the daily recommended amount of water. This amount changes based on many factors, including gender, age, location, etc.
So if you’re feeling tired during the day, make sure you’re keeping a glass of water nearby.
Take Natural Supplements
Maybe you can’t easily make changes to the habits listed above. If that’s the case, you can try taking natural supplements to make up for what you’re missing.
Natural supplements can come in many forms, including pills, gummies, liquids, powders, and capsules.
How do Natural Energy Supplements Boost Our Energy?
One of the most common reasons people lack energy is due to having a vitamin or mineral deficiency.
What causes these deficiencies?
Almost all of the vitamins and minerals our body needs are obtained through our food.
Certain foods are better sources of certain vitamins and minerals than others. For example, bananas are a great source of potassium and manganese, but not as much for iron.
If you’re lacking a particular vitamin or mineral in your diet, then any cells or organs in your body that need it will not function as well.
In certain situations, you may not be able to add these nutrient-rich foods to your regular diet. Natural supplements are perfect in those cases.
Natural supplements will give your body a concentrated dose of one or many vitamins or minerals. This will ensure you return to normal levels and don’t suffer from any deficiencies.
Such deficiencies that cause a lack of energy can be treated this way too.
List of Natural Supplements that Boost Energy
What natural energy supplement you take is based on what vitamin or mineral you’re deficient in. Here are some natural supplements to consider if you’re experiencing fatigue.
Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 is what your body needs to help with a variety of tasks, including:
- Forming red blood cells
- Maintaining a normally functioning immune system
- Metabolizing energy & nutrients
It is naturally found exclusively in animal-based foods, like meat, eggs, and dairy. Vitamin B12 supplements can be taken as a substitute for these foods.
As you age, it can become harder for your body to absorb vitamin B12. Other factors that inhibit absorption include heavy drinking, immune system disorders, and certain medications.
Iron
Everything in your body requires oxygen. Red blood cells are responsible for transporting oxygen from your lungs to the rest of your body. More specifically, hemoglobin is the protein component that is vital for this role.
Without iron, your body can’t make any hemoglobin. The lack of oxygen is what causes you to feel tired. Lack of iron is called iron-deficiency anemia and about 20% of women have it.
Iron can naturally be found in foods such as red meat, fish, spinach, and lentils.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D is the key to strong bones as it helps our bodies use calcium. Naturally, it’s produced when your skin is exposed to the sun as well as some foods.
Causes of vitamin D deficiency include lack of sunlight exposure, a strict vegan diet, and obesity.
Mushrooms
Certain functional mushrooms (aka medicinal mushrooms) can give you an energy boost when used as a natural energy supplement.
For example, Cordyceps was found to increase adenosine triphosphate (ATP) levels when it was consumed in extract form. ATP is the molecule responsible for storing and transferring energy in cells.
Another functional mushroom is Lion’s Mane. These fungi were shown to have anti-fatigue activity through certain factors, such as decreasing lactic acid and increasing antioxidant enzyme activity.
Caffeine-Free Energy Alternatives: Wake & Active
Still not sure what to replace your morning coffee with? How about you try some of our functional mushroom alternatives?
Wake
Wake is our mushroom tincture that uses Lion’s Mane to boost energy. Paired with this mushroom is the energizing combo of Yerba Mate and Vitamin B6 & B12. This blend is perfect for a pick-me-up in the morning without relying on caffeine.
Active
Active is another mushroom tincture, but this one harnesses the power of Cordyceps. This blend combines Cordyceps with Rhodiola to improve physical and mental performance.
Conclusion
Overall, natural energy supplements are great if you want easy access to more of a certain vitamin or mineral. With its growing popularity and research pool, functional mushrooms are also a promising new candidate in the energy supplement field.
If you’d like some fungi natural energy supplements, make sure to check out our store and find one that works for you!