This is such a busy time of year, isn't it? Whether it's school or after-school commitments, social or philanthropic organizations that start meeting again after the summer, end of the year plans at work, or all of the above, fall activities are demanding! If you're like me, you know you plan too much, but you still want to be efficient, accomplish everything, and do it well. There is no time in the schedule for running out of energy or getting sick, and "Collapse From Exhaustion" is not on the TO DO list. But your body will stop you if you don't stop it first. How will you know if you are running on empty? The number one warning sign is fatigue.
Abnormal fatigue can be a sign from your body that you are overworking, overthinking, underresting, or undereating. (I don't know if all those are words, but they should be.) A variety of illnesses and medical conditions can cause fatigue, including hormone disorders, depression, and pregnancy, so if you notice a dramatic or persistent change in your energy level, it's wise to consult your physician. The good news is that if it's your hectic agenda that's leaving you drained, you can give yourself the best chance of staying well by looking at a few key areas ? sleep, nutrition, hydration, and relaxation.
As with many beneficial life habits, these four staples of health do not have catchy slogans or expensive promotional campaigns. Bottled water brands and sleep number beds are starting to change that, but they're based on the premise that you need a very extravagant bed or water purification system, rather than the idea that you need sleep and water to be healthy. (Common sense, you say? How long has it been since you got eight hours of sleep and drank two liters of water in the same day?) Most nutrition-related marketing promotes one food or food group over another, rather than the guiding principle that you faithful readers know by now: eating frequent, small amounts of a variety of foods.
On the other hand, I'm sure you've seen and heard multiple advertisements for energy bars, energy drinks, and energy boosting supplements, promising more energy if you eat or drink the magical concoction of chemicals. Remember what you learned in Nutrition 101: Your body can only make energy from three things: carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. ONLY. Other nutrients help your body USE energy, including iron and B vitamins, but nothing you get in a pill can actually give you more energy than eating actual food. Caffeine, ginseng, guarana, ma huang, ephedra, and xenedrine are all stimulants that make your heart beat faster, so your brain gets more oxygen, so you FEEL like you have more energy?but it's a trap. When the effects wear off, you will be more tired than you were before. If you use the chemicals again, you perpetuate the cycle, or in other words, you're hooked!
Quick Tip: Real energy means calories. If a product contains 0 calories, it's a fake.
The good news (yes, there's more!) is that although no supplement can make up for poor habits, changing habits can eliminate the need for these potentially harmful chemicals in your body. Easier said than done, I agree. But start in one area, and experiment with a small change. If you see results, you will have proved to yourself that the change is worth it! In the coming weeks, we'll look at each of the key areas, sleep, nutrition, hydration, and relaxation, with the goal of maintaining exceptional energy throughout your day.
If you need an energy makeover, why not keep an energy log? On 2 weekdays and 2 weekend days write down the following: What time it is each time you eat (you don't have to write down WHAT you eat); what time it is when you go to sleep and when you wake up; what beverages you drink throughout the day; any relaxing activities you did that day; and a description of your energy (highs or lows) throughout the day. In two weeks we'll meet back and see what your results mean and where to improve! To be continued?
Jessica Setnick is a registered dietitian in Dallas, Texas who travels the world spreading nutrition wisdom. As an accomplished speaker and writer, Jessica's passion is promoting a positive relationship with food and eating as a key component of a healthy and happy life. Find out more or contact Jessica to speak at your event by visiting her website at www.understandingnutrition.com.
? 2004 Permission is granted to reprint this article in print or on your web site so long as the paragraph above is included and contact information is provided to www.understandingnutrition.com.
A green and lush oasis in the middle of a... Read More
Strict "no carb" phases of low carb diets have developed... Read More
In order for a person to actually have a healthy... Read More
There are numerous diets out there that guarantee that they... Read More
America's focus on nutritious eating began to receive national attention... Read More
The word 'homeostasis' is made up of two Greek words:... Read More
The above foods contain high antioxidant capacity. These foods were... Read More
OK, no more excuses. Here's how to stop making everyone... Read More
What if there was a combination of foods that were... Read More
The word cholesterol has become synonymous with poor health. Indeed,... Read More
1. Look for high quality, crystalline, free-form, amino acids (AAs)... Read More
Since the 1930's the western diet has dramatically changed. This... Read More
What Ever Happened to the Basic FourThe USDA was originally... Read More
"What exercises can I do to ?? As fitness professional... Read More
Diet nutrition physiqueToday, learning about diet nutrition physique isn't all... Read More
In this newsletter we will discuss the current controversy about... Read More
All of my life I believed the best way to... Read More
One of the most common questions I am asked is... Read More
In large part, you're in control of your health, not... Read More
Unfortunately, it has been proved beyond doubt that a large... Read More
Evidence for the importance of fruit and vegetable intake to... Read More
Can a child thrive on a vegan diet? The answer... Read More
The dangers of processed foods and diets Why is that... Read More
Do you need omega 3 fatty acid in your diet?... Read More
Food in general has the distinction of being probably the... Read More
reliable maid service Winnetka .."The physician who knows only medicine, knows not even medicine."... Read More
In parts 1-4 of this series of articles titled "Take... Read More
Nuts are readily available and provide a highly nutritious food.... Read More
After we have eaten a meal -- and often we... Read More
Did you know that much of our dry skin comes... Read More
Do you know the risks to daily intakes of Starbucks... Read More
For a natural and tasty way to improve your health... Read More
I'm 40-something years old, and for 40-something years breakfast has... Read More
We know we need to eat a minimum of 5... Read More
Picture yourself in one of the following scenarios.You're cruising along... Read More
You know about Vitamins A,C, D, E ,and the B's... Read More
I know that the headline is a oldie, but it... Read More
Ambrotose? - the Nutritional Alphabet of the "Sweet Language of... Read More
Several years ago, Marilyn M. couldn't even spell fibromyalgia.Now she... Read More
There are a lot of very good reasons to eat... Read More
Detoxifying the body has become an apparent key preventative measure... Read More
It is amazing to be able to say I am... Read More
If you have a business trip tomorrow morning, you've probably... Read More
The total calories that you should be consuming depend on... Read More
Eating grain products - breads, cakes, cereals - have long... Read More
Established in 1989 by Stephen DeFelice, "Foundation for Innovation in... Read More
The most incredible thing you can do for yourself is... Read More
In a world where heart disorders and diseases are becoming... Read More
Vitamins & Minerals are essential to sustain life. Its what... Read More
When you actually sit down and think about it, bottled... Read More
Nutrition |