HEART HEALTH AWARENESS - ENERGY DRINKS

In recent years there has been a surge of energy drinks in the market place. The one that stands out for me the most is Red Bull, it gives you wings so you can fly!, and 5 hour energy. There are a host of other energy drinks out there but I won’t list all the brands. Many of these drinks are high in caffeine and some are high in sugar. Since energy drinks are marketed and listed as dietary supplements they are not regulated by the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) like food is so there is no set limit to the amount of caffeine that can be included in the drinks. (http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/news/20080924/energy-drinks-hazardous-to-your-health)

Of course everything in life should be done in moderation but there are some people who depend on energy drinks regularly to give them that extra boost they need. However, relying on sugar and caffeine sends your body into a cycle of dependency that can seriously harm your health, cause you to age quickly and make you fat and mushy. I don’t know about you but I don’t want to engage in any activity that will cause me to age quicker. I remember seeing a commercial or advertisement that stated if women want to age and look like an old man, drink like one. I never drank alcohol in large amounts but it definitely made me scale back. I am not a caffeine drinker and must say I’ve never had any energy drinks myself. I do know that most energy drinks cause the crash and burn effect. You get energy for a short amount of time but then you become extremely fatigued and end up burning out.Since energy drinks are NOT the answer to your fatigue, how can you energize yourself the healthy way?When you feel the need for a boost, try an energy drink, but make it a healthy energy drink!

First of all, the simple act of drinking water can give you energy, since dehydrationcan cause fatigue.(http://bodyecology.com/articles/energy_drink_nutrition.php) Here are some foods that give you energy naturally, taken from FitDay website:Creating natural energy doesn't have to be a matter that's left to the energy drinks and coffee every morning. In fact, most of the time these drinks end up making you feel more sluggish in the middle of the day than if you hadn't consumed them in the first place.

There are ways that you can boost your energy through food without having to worry about any side effects or the safety of a particular energy product and you can easily find them all at your local grocery store.

1. Whole GrainsBecause your body primarily uses carbohydrates to fuel itself, they are an important part of creating natural energy in which you can thrive on throughout the day. Foods such as brown rice, whole wheat pasta, quinoa, couscous, oatmeal and millet are all good choices. And since these foods are loaded with B vitamins, your metabolism will see quite a boost along with your energy! Whole grains can easily be incorporated into recipes such as cookies, stews and salads or they can be used as the base for your meals.

2. FruitFruit has a natural energy boosting capability that will help to keep you on track between meals. All fruit contains natural sugar to help boost your spirit and your energy level, while the vitamin C and fiber found in many of the fruits you eat helps you to keep mental clarity throughout the day. Strawberries and oranges are popular options, while grapes, cherries and melons will provide some energy as well. Frozen fruits make excellent smoothies and are a great way to get a burst of energy in the morning, when you need it the most.

3. Broccoli and Other Green VegetablesA lack of iron can result in a lack of energy, so it's important to eat plenty of the foods that provide a healthy dose of this important nutrient to ensure that energy levels stay high. Broccoli, spinach, collard greens and other dark, leafy green vegetables are excellent sources of iron. And because these foods all contain vitamin C as well, they offer a nice amount of antioxidants that will help you to stay strong and healthy which can affect your energy levels. You can easily fit these foods into your meals by adding them to pastas, salads, soups and casseroles.

4. Spicy HerbsHerbs such as cayenne pepper not only help to raise energy levels naturally, but they provide protection for your heart and they help to maintain proper cardiovascular movement throughout the body. Peppers also help to spice up a meal without having to add a lot of oils and fats, so it's a perfect weight loss aid in addition to being a mood elevator and an energy infuser. What's more is that these herbs can be added to just about any meal so they aren't hard to work with. Try to use fresh herbs and spices when possible, but powdered versions offer most of the same benefits.(http://www.fitday.com/fitness-articles/nutrition/healthy-eating/4-foods-that-will-give-you-natural-energy.html)

Just so you know I am leaning toward a more natural, organic lifestyle. Not trying to push my viewpoints on others but I do like for people to be well informed. We only get one body and we must take care of it. Everything we need naturally grows or comes from nature we just have to seek it out.

Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials