Jessica Sepel | Contributors - Nourish plant-based living

In our modern-day world, it’s all too common to hear people talking about a lack of energy. Here are some holistic ways to get your body back on track.

We live in a fast-paced, stressful world, so it’s not surprising that many of us are low in energy. But when we’re tired for a long period of time, the damage goes further than just making us feel sleepy or cranky. Thankfully, there are a host of simple, effective dietary and lifestyle tips to get our bodies back on track.

10 WAYS TO NATURALLY ENHANCE YOUR ENERGY

Take care of your digestion: You probably already know that much of your health comes down to digestion. When your digestion is poor, it has a domino effect on the rest of your body. Your digestive system takes the food you have eaten and metabolises it to give you energy. The small intestine gets to work funnelling those nutrients into the bloodstream so your body can use them as fuel. You know how you feel human again after eating a meal when you’re starving? That’s the principle at work. The problem is many of us aren’t digesting our food well enough for our bodies to extract those nutrients for energy.
Limit your intake of processed foods: Processed foods and refined carbs have become staples in our modern-day diets. They’re making our digestive systems sluggish and leaving us with that ‘heavy’ feeling in our stomachs. Refined foods, sugar and alcohol all do their best to eat away at the good bacteria in the gut, leaving us with an imbalance. And as we know, our gut bacteria has a huge impact on energy. In order to aid your gut health and enhance your energy, it’s essential to limit your intake of processed, packaged foods.
Maintain a healthy gut: Eat foods that produce good bacteria, keeping the gut happy and healthy. I recommend adding lots of greens to your diet, ensuring you get enough fibre, and popping a probiotic every day (with the guidance of a healthcare practitioner). Doing this will give your gut a hit of good bacteria, and help to bring it back into balance.
Take care of your adrenals: There are some simple habits you can adopt to nourish your adrenal glands and keep them functioning properly. Firstly, limit your caffeine intake to one per day – preferably before 10am and never after 3pm. Commit to regular breathing practices. Get eight hours of sleep and try to be in bed by 10pm. Reduce or cut your sugar intake. Ask your nutritionist or naturopath to prescribe some delicious adrenal tonics – they do wonders!
Nourish the thyroid: When your thyroid function slows down, you’ll feel deeply tired – as if someone has turned off the light switch. If you’re dealing with low energy and suspect your thyroid may be to blame, ask your doctor to test your thyroid levels and especially your T3 levels.
Exercise smarter, not harder: Tailoring your exercise habits to suit your lifestyle is important. My advice is to exercise for energy, not until exhaustion. In my opinion, less is more. As always, you need to tune into your body to find out what works for you. If high-intensity interval training energises you, go for that! If you finish yoga feeling on top of the world, do a few classes a week. Listen to your body and give it what it needs. You’ll have fewer stress hormones pumping through your body and more energy.
Observe your emotions: Your emotions may also play a part in your energy. If you’re feeling fatigued, reflect on who you’re surrounding yourself with. To be healthy and happy, it’s really important to spend time with people who lift you higher, not drain the living daylights out of you.
Eat a wholesome, balanced diet: Up your intake on nourishing whole foods such as organic plant-based protein, fibre, healthy fats and complex carbohydrates.
Maintain a healthy liver: Your liver functioning is vital to maintaining stable blood-sugar levels, which has a direct impact on our energy levels. It’s also essential to metabolise carbs, fats and proteins, store vitamins and minerals, regulate hormones and eliminate toxins. When the liver is clogged up thanks to things like alcohol, caffeine, sugar, pollution or medications, it can’t do its job properly. And that toxic build-up can make you feel awful. Fatigue is a common symptom of an overworked liver. For high energy levels, your liver needs to be working optimally.
Get enough shut-eye: Prioritise quality sleep for better energy levels. We all know how refreshed we feel after a good night’s sleep, and that should be the norm.

Articles by Jessica Sepel

More inspiration from our mindful collective

10 WAYS TO NATURALLY ENHANCE YOUR ENERGY

More inspiration from our mindful collective