A modern lifestyle uses up a lot of energy and may leave you feeling tired constantly. While you may not be suffering from any serious disease, having low energy levels may also prevent you from feeling well or from enjoying life in general. A variety of factors may bring about low energy. These include overexertion, anxiety, depression, nutritional deficiencies, lack of exercise, pregnancy, stress, poor sleep quality, and low blood sugar levels. While you may be tempted to take an energy drink to instantly boost your energy level, the sudden burst of energy is only temporary and may result in a drastic drop due to the high sugar content of most energy drinks.
A combination of a healthy diet, regular exercise and appropriate supplements all help to replenish energy levels to keep you going all day.
Avoid high-fat, high-sugar, and high-sodium foods that leave you feeling sluggish and tired. High sugar foods may seem to perk you up because of the spike in your energy levels but the sugar rush is not permanent and may soon be followed by a sudden drop in energy making you prone to blood sugar disorders like diabetes. Natural foods like leafy greens, legumes, nuts, whole grains and fresh fruits as well as oily fish like salmon and mackerel all help to increase your energy levels. Drink plenty of fluids especially mineral water to keep you hydrated. And eat frequently but in small portions for a steady supply of energy to your body. If a low blood sugar level is zapping you of energy, you may have to observe a low glycaemic diet which does not give you blood sugar swings.
It may seem ironic but lack of physical activity may be depleting your energy levels as couch potatoes seem to complain of constant tiredness than those that exercised daily. In fact, many studies have already shown that regular, low-intensity workouts can boost energy levels by 20% and decrease fatigue by 65%. Exercise releases hormones such as endorphins into your blood stream which leave you feeling energized and also feeling good. You should try walking, strolling, doing household chores, stationary biking and lifting light weights everyday to replenish your energy levels.
Some people may feel constantly tired because of nutritional deficiencies coming from a poor diet. Adult women may also feel tired all the time because of iron deficiency or anemia. Energy giving vitamins include Vitamin-C, the Vitamin-B complex, and magnesium. If for any reason, you are unable to consume your daily requirement of nutrients from the food you eat, you may have to obtain additional vitamins and minerals from a good multi-vitamin supplement or nutritional formulas. For women, a multivitamin with iron may also replenish lost energy. You may also try probiotics like lactobacilli and acidophilus to help restore your energy levels. Probiotics are good micro-organisms that keep your digestive system healthy. Many people who regularly take probiotic supplements report numerous health benefits such as an improvement in their energy levels.