Are you run down, tired, and needing an extra boost of energy? Would you normally grab a good old redbull to cure the exam season perm-fry tired feeling? DON’T !! There are sooo many great alternatives that are HEALTHY for you. I personally feel that energy drinks are one day going to have “warning” labels on them, similar to the way cigarettes do. There are so many negative side effects, read- http://www.ehow.com/list_5844792_side-red-bull-energy-drink.html
That being said, there are tons and tons of natural alternatives to wake yourself up and feel energized!
1. RAW COCAO
Raw cocao is one of my favourite snacks. Raw cocao is essential chocolate in its purest form. It is an instant energy boost when consumed, is one of the highest foods rich in antioxidant flavonoids, even more then red wine, blueberries, and green tea. Magnesium is a mineral that is deficient in most human beings, and RAW cacao has the highest content of this mineral out of all foods. Along with this it energizes with vitamins A, B, C, copper, iron (good for veggies), amino acids, calcium and more!
It comes in either a nib (you can get nibs sweetened with cane sugar), whole beans, or powder. Personally, I find the beans give me the most energy, because they are in their natural form. HOWEVER, they don’t taste as good as the other varieties.
HOW TO EAT IT
-Dip whole beans in agave nectar, or eat plain
-Make raw chocolate treats (google has tons of ideas)
-Make a smoothie with the raw powder
-Eat the nibs as a snack, or add to cereals and baking
2. MATCHA GREEN TEA
Matcha green tea is amazing. The difference between matcha and regular green tea’s is that you’re consuming the entire leaf, and not just steeping the benefits, but actually digesting the ground-up leaf directly into the body. It has the HIGHEST ANTIOXIDANT CONTENT IN THE WORLD. One cup of Matcha is equivalent to 10 cups of regular green tea as far as nutritional value, and antioxidant levels go. It’s said that it can improve physical endurance by 24%- that’s INSANE! It fights cancer, it burns calories by speeding up your metabolism, and it works as a detox on your body.This stuff honestly makes me feel amazing, I can be in the worst mood, and have a glass and it totally re-awakens your entire body, and gives you a happy giddy kind of feeling.
HOW TO EAT IT
-Put 1 tbsp in the bottom of a cup, ad a splash of water and make a paste, the pour hot water on top
-Ad into a fruit smoothie
-Blend it with vanilla frozen yogurt
-Make a yummy frothy smoothie (see my recipes)
-Have a shot of it with some liquid in the morning
3. Maca (capsules or powder)
Maca is great for athletes because it gives you a SIGNIFICANT increase in energy, endurance, and stamina. It works as a memory enhancer, which is great during those long study nights, many studies show that it increases neural activity in the brain. It helps regulate your hormones and emotional well being. I love maca, and I prefer taking it in a capsule form, but you can also buy a powder and add it to smoothies and recipes.
HOW TO EAT
-Put powder in your natural raw cocoa treats
-Take capsule as a supplement
-Add matcha powder to smoothies, drinks, etc.
4.Super Fruits
This one may seem obvious, but fruits high in antioxidants and nutritional value really help to wake me up. The water from the fruits hydrates the body, and the natural sugars work to wake me up. I love to make a green veggie and fruit smoothie for a long lasting, health blasting boost of energy. Some of my favourite fruits for energy are:
-Kiwi
-Citrus (lemons, mandarines)
-Big juicy green apple
-Blueberries
-Watermelon
5.Energizing Essential Oils
Essential oils have great benefits for your health! You can ad them to baths (with sea salt! oo), you can put them on your wrist/neck/temple for an uplift, of you can add them to your skin care already. Here are some great essential oils, and their benefits on awakening the body:
Balsam pine – clean, purifying, vitality-promoting
Lemon – uplifting, anti-depressant
Orange – mood-elevating
Peppermint – refreshing, mental stimulant
Rosemary – invigorating
Thyme – refreshing, purifying, herbal, peppery (caution: this oil may produce a burning sensation on the skin) —- from: (http://www.care2.com/greenliving/uplifting-essential-oils-8-ways.html)
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