Dallas County Living Well Magazine Spring 2014 | Page 24

Powerful Energy Boosters
Daily Tips with Staying Power

M

By Kathleen Barnes
any Americans occasionally complain of having
a lack of energy, and for
some it’s a daily experience. Low energy levels
can arise from a number of underlying
factors, but poor diet and ongoing stress
are the most likely culprits.

ernoon energy drop may be due to a
blood sugar dip. The carb/protein plan
also works well at these times, or a cup of
green tea might just hit the spot. “Green
tea does deliver some caffeine, but it has
literally hundreds of antioxidants, like
epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), that
boost metabolism and stoke the metabolic fires,” she says.
Plus, because most people have lessthan-perfect diets, certain supplements
can help raise energy levels and enhance
overall health. Gerbstadt recommends
vitamin D for those that don’t spend
much time in the sun, to enhance immune function; fish oil for non-fish eaters for heart and brain health; and all
B-vitamins to support everyone’s natural
energy production.

tion and Dietetics.
“If you think of getting energy from a
cup of coffee or a candy bar, understand
that it’s just a quick boost that doesn’t
last long,” advises Gerbstadt, author of
The Doctor’s Detox Diet. “The kind of
energy you get from complex carbs and
whole grains will stay with you.”
Adding a little protein, like a piece of
low-fat cheese or a dollop of peanut butter on a whole grain cracker, will keep
energy steady for even longer, starting
with breakfast.
Gerbstadt further notes that a midaft-

“Stress is one of the biggest energy
zappers of physical, emotional and
spiritual energy,” says Jon Gordon, of
Jacksonville, Florida, author of The Energy Bus and consultant to Fortune 500
companies, sports teams, hospitals and
schools on the subject of staying positive.
Exercise, a widely acknowledged energy booster, does double duty in moderating stress, according to the experts.
Gordon’s prime recommendation for
vanquishing it is a combination of exercise and emotional balancing: “You can’t
be under stress and thankful at the same

TAKING SMALL BREAKS
Eat Right
FROM THE WORKDAY CAN
HELP INCREASE ENERGY A consistently healthy diet can be the
missing key ingredient to maintaining
AND REFOCUS ATTENTION high energy in the long term, along with
ON THE TASKS AT HAND. avoiding short-term energy dips. A diet
GETTING AWAY FROM THE featuring antioxidant-rich vegetables,
COMPUTER SCREEN TO healthy carbohydrates, low-fat proteins
and healthy fats will not only keep enWEED THE GARDEN FOR ergy levels high, it’s also essential to
10 MINUTES OR TAKING A long-term health, according to Dr. ChrisQUICK TURN AROUND THE tine Gerbstadt, a registered dietitian and Manage Stress
BLOCK CAN QUICKLY spokesperson for the Academy of Nutri-

Reverse an
energy slump
.

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North Dallas Living Well Magazine • Spring 2014