How would you like to expose the sneaky little culprits that drain your energy each and every day. You and everyone else that are solving this problem by gulping down brightly colored espresso drinks mid afternoon. Today, we are going shine a bright light on little known things that are sucking the energy right out of your body.
In our fast-paced society, you need to be at the top of your energy level to deal with the many challenges that you face during the day. Many factors can leave you feeling like you’re running on empty. The more you push yourself and drain your energy reserves, the more you are putting your health at risk. If you want to be at your highest level of performance, full of energy and at the very top of your game, here are 8 pitfalls to avoid.
Dehydration
Even mild dehydration will slow down circulation in your body, depriving your muscles of much-needed oxygen. This can, in turn, drain your energy reserves. Severe dehydration can leave you feeling nauseous and entirely out of commission. To keep from becoming too dehydrated, be mindful and drink plenty of water throughout the day.
Too Much Sugar
Sugar is an incredibly addictive substance and can be found in just about every processed food that you can think of.It can make you feel energetic shortly after consuming it, it also makes your insulin levels rise before quickly dropping off. This sudden dip in your blood sugar will leave you struggling to concentrate and stay on your feet. To avoid a sugar crash, try to stick with eating unprocessed foods and avoid foods with added sugar.
Not Enough Green Leafy Vegetables
Think about it for a moment, when is the last time you had a gigantic plate full of green leafy vegetable or a huge Kale shake? Green leafy vegetables play an important role in creating energy throughout the body for several reasons. One reason is simply the amount of potassium contained in green leafies. The RDI for potassium is 4,700 mg. That’s alot! According to a recent study, at least 98% of Americans are potassium deficient. One of the number one symptoms of potassium deficiency is weakness and fatigue.
Accordingly to SELF Nutrition Data, here is a list of foods that are excellent sources of potassium, along with the percentage of the RDI found in a 100-gram serving:
- Beet greens, cooked: 26% of the RDI
- Yams, baked: 19% of the RDI
- White beans, cooked: 18% of the RDI
- Clams, cooked: 18% of the RDI
- White potatoes, baked: 16% of the RDI
- Sweet potatoes, baked: 14% of the RDI
- Avocado: 14% of the RDI
- Pinto beans, cooked: 12% of the RDI
- Bananas: 10% of the RDI
Poor Sleep
You already know that when you don’t get enough quality sleep, your energy levels will suffer. Sleep deprivation, a growing concern in our modern world, can impair your memory, alter your mood, increase your risk of chronic illnesses, like heart disease and diabetes, and cause you to gain weight. Try going to bed an hour earlier at night if you find that you are sleep-deprived. If you are struggling with insomnia, do whatever you can to address it. Without the quality sleep that your body craves, you body, mind and spirit will suffer.
Stress
One of the leading causes of depleted energy is stress. When your body responds to stress, adrenaline courses through your body, and cortisol levels spike. When you have ongoing stress (real or imagined), all of your body’s systems are negatively affected especially your cardiovascular system and immune system, leading to your energy reserves becoming chronically depleted.
Spending Too Much Time Inside
Here’s something you might not have considered, but if you are cooped up inside all day, without adequate sunlight and fresh air, you will likely find yourself fatigued. Sunlight is a vital component in regulating your circadian rhythms. Sunlight reinforces your natural circadian rhythms. Your body’s circadian system dictates many of your biological processes, including your energy levels.
Also, oftentimes the air indoor is stuffy and infused with toxins like chemicals from synthetic materials and air fresheners. Artificial lighting can also deplete your energy and may cause you to have trouble falling asleep, and wake up still drained. Do yourself a favor and make it daily habit of getting outside. You will be blown away at how your energy will start to rise.
Toxic People
And again I say minimize your interaction with toxic people. The literally drain your energy, like a vampire sucks blood! Don’t feel guilty about preserving yourself. You only get one life. So live it well, by drawing a boundary line and keeping toxic folk at bay. “Nuff said.
Over Thinking
This is one of my favorites because it sneaks up on all of us without warning. Your thoughts can literally drain the energy right out of your body. You ever have one of those days where you become so overwhelmed by thinking about your to do list (or some other annoying problem or circumstance) that find it hard to get out of the bed? That’s why. Thoughts are powerful. Many times we underestimate that power because thoughts are intangible. Chronic “overthinking” has been linked to anxiety. Anxiety is stress on steroids and yes it can literally wear you out!
As you can see there may be many things in your life could be responsible for draining your energy levels. Try tackling these eight areas. It is a great way for you to zap the energy drain and start feeling more alert and refreshed and ready for each new day.
All the best,
Elaine