sustainable energy Archives - Amazing Health Advances

5 Energizing Alternatives to Coffee

AHA Publisher — Fri, 30 Sep 2022 07:10:59 +0000

Erin Young via Dr. Axe – Love the buzz from your steamy mug of coffee but hate the slump after your spike in energy? We have found five delicious alternatives to coffee that will keep you energized throughout the day and deliver amazing health benefits. But first, let’s talk more about coffee and why you may want to consider making a switch. The Dark Side of Coffee The recommended daily maximum of coffee is three to four cups, which is 400 milligrams of caffeine, and for the average person, drinking coffee can be healthy in moderation. But drinking more than the daily recommended level of coffee (or any at all, for those sensitive to caffeine) may result in some adverse health effects that are consistent with a caffeine overdose. Those effects can include: Weight gain: Caffeine in coffee can increase the level of your stress hormone cortisol, and elevated cortisol may cause weight gain. Low energy: Caffeine stimulates the body’s adrenal system, which boosts energy for a short time but then crashes it to leave you fatigued. Mineral deficiency: Caffeine affects iron absorption in your stomach. It also reduces your kidneys’ ability to store calcium, zinc, magnesium and other important minerals. Disrupted sleep: Caffeine stays in your nervous system for four to six hours, so even if you feel fatigued when you go to bed, the caffeine can still disrupt your sleep. Sound scary, or does the idea of having to power through your day without caffeine sound even scarier? Well, fear not! Next are five great alternatives to coffee that will help you keep your coffee cravings in check but your energy levels soaring! 5 Healthy Alternatives to Coffee 1. Matcha Green Tea Powder Matcha green tea powder is the whole green tea leaf stone ground into a fine powder. To drink matcha, dissolve the powder into water to create a tea packed with antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. Matcha is an excellent alternative to coffee. A two-gram serving of matcha (a little more than half a teaspoon) contains enough caffeine to give you an energy boost, but the amount is only a fifth of the caffeine in a standard cup of coffee. Additionally, the caffeine in matcha is delivered slowly to your body over a period of six to eight hours. As a result, matcha delivers long-lasting energy that does not leave you with the “jitters,” energy slumps or sleepless nights. Matcha also contains the highest natural concentration of the amino acid L-theanine. L-theanine promotes alpha waves in the brain, which enhance concentration and boost dopamine to improve memory. There are many more incredible matcha health benefits, including its ability to support the immune system, boost weight loss and deliver cancer-fighting antioxidants. 2. Water Did you know that one of the primary signs of dehydration is fatigue? If you feel tired, have a headache or find it hard to focus, then you may actually be dehydrated. The majority of people make the mistake of drinking water only when they feel thirsty. Thirst, however, is one of the last symptoms that appears as a result of dehydration — and usually only after fatigue the fatigue sets in. When lacking adequate hydration, science has proven that your body will not perform at its best. One study of athletes found that low levels of hydration significantly affected their capacity for exercise. To help you drink enough water (the daily recommended amount for adults is about two liters, or half a gallon), keep a bottle with you at all times, and try infusing it with natural flavor from fresh produce, like watermelon, cucumber or ginger. 3. Green Smoothie or Green Vegetable Juices Introducing more greens into your diet can dramatically boost your energy levels because of all the nutrients and antioxidants they contain. If you’re not a fan of tons of large salads or plates full of broccoli, a green vegetable juice or smoothie is an easy way to boost your vegetable intake. Just half a cup of spinach in your smoothie is a rich source of iron that can protect against anemia, a condition that is relatively common among women and another cause of fatigue.A daily green juice can also protect your cardiovascular health. One study showed that consuming 300 milliliters of green juice daily for six weeks reduced bad LDL cholesterol by 9 percent. When making your green juice or smoothies, make sure that 95 percent of the blend contains vegetables rather than fruit to keep the total sugar level low. For a bonus energy kick, you can also add in a superfood supplement like spirulina, barley greens or matcha green tea powder — all of which make healthy alternatives to coffee. 4. Yerba Mate If you’ve traveled to Brazil or Argentina, you likely know how wild South Americans are about yerba mate. The herbal beverage is made from the leaves of the yerba mate plant that has been picked and dried in a similar way to tea leaves. The drink is then produced by steeping the leaves in hot water. The taste of yerba mate is similar to brewed green tea leaves, and it’s also said to deliver a buzz like coffee but with added focus, fewer jitters and less of an impact on sleep. One serving of yerba mate contains around three-fourths the caffeine of a cup of coffee, but it also delivers amino acids and nutrients. You can also try other herbal teas, such as guayusa, ginger, chamomile and more. 5. Protein-Based Smoothie Protein is critical in providing energy to your body, and published studies show that protein boosts alertness and concentration by exciting the brain chemical orexin into production mode. To help supply your body with sustained energy, try adding a protein-based smoothie into your day. Green vegetables have minimal amounts of protein, so to really boost the protein power, try adding in chia seeds, nut butter, hemp or a high-quality powder supplement, like collagen or protein powder made from bone broth. Conclusion Coffee in itself is not unhealthy when consumed in moderation, but there are healthy, energizing alternatives to coffee out there. Introducing a selection of alternative drinks into your diet can deliver some surprising health benefits. Staying hydrated with water and fueling your body with protein can ensure sustainable energy levels all day. Matcha green tea powder is a perfect coffee alternative that delivers an energy boost as well as and health benefits. Erin Young is a heath food writer and a tea expert. She owns two tea companies: Evergreen Matcha in the USA and Zen Green Matcha Tea in Australia. She partners with sustainable tea farms in Kyoto, Japan, to source her premium matcha green tea powder. To read the original article click here.

The post 5 Energizing Alternatives to Coffee appeared first on Amazing Health Advances.

More Energy Now in 2022

AHA Publisher — Tue, 11 Jan 2022 08:00:59 +0000

Dr. Don Colbert – As you move into a New Year, you may be ready to make health changes. You may be motivated and optimistic. Or, you may feel overwhelmed, fatigued or even discouraged by everything going on in the world today. No matter your current mood, to accomplish any goals this year, start with more energy! Feeling “more energy” is often subjective. In its simplest form, energy is derived from consuming calories, or units of energy. However, there’s more to it than that. There are vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and other compounds at work in our bodies that make consumed energy usable to the body. There is the health of cells, tissues, and organs, and whether or not they effectively respond to the compounds. There are also emotional, mental and physical factors that drain our energy and cause feelings of fatigue. Where can you start to get more energy? Let’s start with units of energy and compounds that help our body use them. Then, let’s focus on ways to make your cells healthy enough to effectively and efficiently use the energy. Lastly, let’s conquer a few “energy” drainers with simply healthy habits. Ready? Divine Health® Energizing Smoothie For More Energy Now! Ingredients 1 cup coconut or almond milk (from a carton, not can) 1/2 scoop Divine Health® Fermented Green Supremefood® 1/2 scoop Divine Health® Organic Red Supremefood® 1/2 cup frozen raw berries 1 cup fresh greens 1/2 avocado 1 Tablespoon Apple Cider Vinegar 1 scoop Keto Zone® Collagen Powder (Unflavored) 1 scoop Keto Zone® Fiber Zone (Unflavored) 1/2-1 cup brewed green tea or black tea ice cubes (optional) Instructions Mix all ingredients in a blender, adding water as needed for desired consistently (I typically use about 1 cup water). Makes 1 large serving. Enjoy! Nutrition info: 415 calories, 13 grams fat, 8 grams net carbs (26 grams carbs, 18 grams fiber), 26 grams protein More Energy Ingredients Teas and Caffeine While there’s not much caffeine in this smoothie, there’s enough to “wake up” the brain and provide a subtle pick-me-up any time of day. How does caffeine affect energy? Caffeine crosses the blood-brain barrier to inhibit adenosine in the brain. Adenosine is a neurotransmitter that quiets the central nervous system (1). Then, without adenosine in the way, epinephrine increases. Epinephrine stimulates the body and brain. These effects are enough to increase subjective feelings of energy, physical performance, and brain alertness. What’s more, green and black tea contain antioxidants and phytochemicals to support cellular and whole-body health. In fact, green tea contains a compound called L-theanine. L-theanine promotes steady energy (2). Green tea has also been shown to boost physical performance, increase the breakdown of fat for energy, and stimulate norepinephrine(3, 4, 5). Chlorophyll Chlorophyll, found in Divine Health® Fermented Green Supremefood® and fresh greens, is the lifeblood of plants. When consumed by humans, it’s one of the best energizing foods. Similar to hemoglobin, chlorophyll carries nutrients in the blood. However, it doesn’t carry iron. It carries another energizing mineral, magnesium (6). Magnesium supports the production of energy throughout the body as well as healthy sleep cycles. Furthermore, chlorophyll helps alkalize the body and urine pH. This supports liver function and helps the body remove toxins like metals, pesticides, and more. Look to chlorophyll to energize your body in many of the same ways it energizes and stimulates plants! Organic Apple Cider Vinegar Organic apple cider vinegar is an ingredient in many folk medicine cures. It is known to fight both bacterial and viral infections, yeasts, and more. How does it energize? One great effect of consuming apple cider vinegar is that it causes the sinuses to drain and throat pathways to clear. As they clear and dilate, they allow for better oxygen transport from your head to your lungs to your body. Essentially, it promotes clear breathing! Importantly, you should never drink it straight. Always dilute to just 1-2 tablespoons per 8 ounces liquid to protect your esophagus while supporting immune health, liver health, and alkalization of the body. Beets Beets are vibrant and nutritious. They contain amazingly energizing compounds, called betanins. Betanins are responsible for beet’s many health benefits in the human body, including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory actions (7). What’s more, beets also support the production and work of glutathione, a powerful antioxidant our cells make to fight damaging substances. Beets also promote vasodilation. This makes them one of the great energizing foods! Beets contain natural nitrates that are converted to nitric oxides in the body. Nitric oxides dilate blood vessels, allowing more oxygen to circulate more efficiently. Nitric oxide may also increase muscle tissues’ ability to use oxygen (8). One of the best ways to get the power of beets is through a fruit and vegetable powder like Divine Health® Organic Red Supremefood®. Fiber Believe it or not, your digestive tract health is one key to energizing your body. In fact, specific fibers, called inulin and psyllium husk, directly support digestive health and energy. They both stimulate the growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut, improve digestion, and support immune health (9, 10). When digestion is working right, your body can absorb and use all the energizing foods and nutrients you give it! For a great source of inulin and psyllium husk, try a high-quality fiber powder such as Keto Zone®Fiber Zone (Unflavored). More Energy Habits for the New Year Of course, there are many factors, lifestyle habits, and individual characteristics that contribute to feelings of energy or fatigue in each of us. Here are a few to focus on as you work for more energy this year: Sleep. Obviously, if you don’t get enough sleep, you’re going to feel tired, low, and fatigued. What’s more, lack of sleep actually contributes to many health issues (11). Aim for at least 7-8 hours of high-quality sleep every night for better energy and mood this year. De-Stress. When stress and cortisol build up, we feel a cascade of effects. These effects include fatigue and overwhelm. Chronic high stress can even affect your health (12). Use daily tools, like these, to reduce stress and feel more energy. Exercise. Exercise, especially outdoors, is a great mood lifter and energizer (13)! Hydrate. Did you know that dehydration promotes feelings of being overwhelmed, fatigued, and foggy? Amazingly, dehydrated adults often feel more stress and have more cortisol (14)? Did you also know that most adults function in a state of dehydration each day? There’s an easy fix! Try to drink 32-48 ounces of water by noon, and another 32-48 ounces of water by 6pm each day. If you exercise, drink more! Sunshine. Natural sunlight is one of nature’s best mood lifters and energizers. In fact, sunlight has been shown to decrease depressed moods and increase serotonin levels (15). Cold Shower. Even though it may be frigid outside, an icy blast in the shower is still a good idea! Why? It invigorates and energizes the body and immune system. Nature’s Best Stress Relief. Amazingly, nano-particle hemp oils like those Dr. Colbert’s Nano-Science Hemp Oil, can help you feel more energy by supporting stable moods (16), stress relief and normalized cortisol levels, healthy sleep habits (17), healthy brain and nervous system functions (18), and healthy cardiovascular functions(19). Bottom Line Before working on a list of positive changes for the new year, simply learn how to energize your body better! Start with our Divine Health More Energy Smoothie, add delicious, healthy, energizing foods to your diet, and work on lifestyle habits that support health and energy. It’s a new year. Get more energy now! To read the original article click here.

The post More Energy Now in 2022 appeared first on Amazing Health Advances.