In Need of More Energy?
Us students are constantly running ourselves into the ground. With sleepless nights before exams, or big nights out followed by a 12 hour Netflix session. We are notoriously bad for not functioning in the same time zone as your average person. So how do you keep yourself awake during those important classes or late night essay cramming?
I’ m sure I’ m not alone in saying that I am particularly bad at guzzling cup after cup of coffee. I see a lot of people turning to branded energy drinks when times get really tough. But it’ s never really occurred to me until recently to make my own“ energy drink”. The juicing phase may seem very last year, and maybe I was just late to catch on, but the wonders that a cup of blended fruits can do for your energy levels are really miraculous.
If you include key ingredients such as:
� Ginger – can reduce muscle pain, fight infection and helps to aid indigestions � Banana – potassium, fibre and vitamin B great both pre and post workout � Berries – vitamin C and packed with fibre for a natural energy boost
� Leafy greens such as kale or spinach – these supply a whole wealth of vitamins, and can increase iron count( especially good for vegetarians)
� Nuts and seeds – great energy booster providing magnesium and regulating blood sugar. Top tip: Soaking nuts in water over nights softens them and makes them easier to chop up in a blender!
4
Is this your year to quit smoking?
According to the Telegraph, quitting smoking is the 9 th most popular New Year’ s Resolution, with losing weight and eating healthier topping the charts. Although it is commonly known that New Year’ s Resolutions are often a bit of fun for a few weeks before falling back into our old habits, we really feel that quitting smoking is one that should take highest priority.
With around 10,000 smoking related deaths in Scotland, one fifth of Scotland’ s mortality is tobacco related. For every person who dies in Scotland from a smoking-related condition, 20 more smokers are living with a similar smoking-related condition. But for how much longer? Smoking is the most preventable cause of death, so why don’ t we take our own life’ s into our own hands.
Stopping smoking has shown to improve both mental and physical health, along with other factors such as concentration and reduced risk of infection. So maybe quitting smoking can help you in your other New Year’ s Resolutions too – perhaps you’ ll finally run that 5k or focus more on your studies. Who knows unless you try?
If you or someone you are close to are struggling to quit smoking, here are some useful links to help:
https:// www. nhs. uk / smokefree / help-andadvice / local-support-services-helplines
https:// quitnow. smokefree. nhs. uk /
http:// www. ashscotland. org. uk /
www. nicorette. co. uk / quit-smoking
# lookafteryourself