Want to Increase Energy? Try these Energy Boosting Foods

3 Energy Boosting Foods

Let’s set one thing straight. Feeling tired all the time is NOT just a part of getting older.

Women often come to me saying that they feel like they are older than they are. And sadly, a lot of their doctors have told them it’s normal to feel this way after 30, or 40, or 50. How frustrating!

So if you’re wondering how to have more energy, read on…

3 Energy Boosting Foods that DON’T Contain Caffeine

Energy Boosting Food #1 – Bee Pollen

Bee pollen is an energy boosting food because it contains all 56 nutrients that are absolutely essential for human health, more than any other food (including B-vitamins, carotenes, a little vitamin C).

And when it comes to nutrients, it’s not just how much you consume, but how much you actually absorb, and bee pollen is shown to enhance the absorption of the other nutrients from other foods.

It also helps raise the red blood cell count so it can be useful against anemia, which often causes fatigue.

Bonus for you wine-lovers out there, it also protects against liver inflammation due to alcohol.

How to use Bee Pollen:

Bee pollen is a great superfood, but some people may have reactions to it. It’s always best to start with a few granules and slowly work your way up to 1 tsp or 1 tbsp 1-3 times a day to see how your body reacts.

It’s also important to keep it raw to maintain the nutrient density, so it’s best in smoothies, yogurt parfaits, sprinkled on top of oatmeal or even just by itself (you may want to chase it with a little water).

Note: A lot of bee pollen coming from China has extra pesticides as it may be fumigated in burlap and leaves a bitter aftertaste. If it tastes bitter, the quality is probably not very good. If you can get it locally, that’s always best, but CC Pollen Co. is a company that I’ve used and trust.

Energy Boosting Food #2 – Beets + Beet Juice

A beet is a deep red root vegetable and consuming it may increase your energy for a few reasons…

First, beets are rich in iron and easily absorbable, and iron deficiency is often a reason for a lack of energy.

Second, beets are rich in natural chemicals called nitrates and your body converts nitrates into nitric oxide, which helps with stamina and blood flow. For this reason, beet juice powder has become a popular supplement for athletes.

As a bonus, beets are also one of the best foods to detoxify the liver and kidneys and may also help lower blood pressure.

How to use beets:

Beets are delicious roasted in the oven, and eaten alone or mixed in salads. Many stores offer them already cooked and peeled which saves a lot of time (and possible stains).

Beets are also excellent juiced, but they are higher in sugar than most veggies, so if juicing, I would avoid adding any additional fruit.

My personal favorite juice recipe is:

1 celery bunch + 1 beet + 2 carrots + 1 cucumber + 1 lemon + ½ inch ginger slice. For maximum benefit, buy all organic and don’t peel any of the skins except the lemon (lemon skin is healthy but really bitter, so I usually just keep a little bit on). This usually makes 3 servings for me.

Note: Consuming a lot of beets or beet juice may cause urine and bowel movements to be pink or red. It’s no cause for concern…but thought I’d save you a Google search and a possible bathroom freak out.

Energy Boosting Food #3 – Maca

Also known as Peruvian Ginseng (although not related to ginseng), Maca is a cruciferous vegetable that only grows above 9,000 feet in Andes, and known mainly for its root.

While studies are limited, anecdotal evidence suggests that it may give you a bit of an energy boost and help with endurance.

Bonus: Maca has often been used to increase libido. Studies of mice/rats have shown they had more sex and bigger litters. There has also been some promising evidence in using maca during menopause.

How to use maca:

Because it is a root, it’s not advised to use it in raw form; look for a “gelatinized” maca powder. It can be added to smoothies or soups or mixed with some raw cacao for a tasty morning latte alternative (my favorite).

Note: Because maca may have an effect on hormones, if you have a hormonal imbalance or thyroid condition, consult with a naturopathic doctor or health professional to be sure it’s the right choice for you.

Other ways to increase energy

While these are a great start, keep in mind, if you want to increase energy, eating energy boosting foods is just one part of the equation. These can definitely help, but what is most important is to get to the root cause of why you don’t have energy.

And one of the most important factors of having more natural energy is improving your hormones (note, I am not a doctor and this is not meant to be taken as medical advice. This is for educational purposes only).

So if you want to increase energy, it’s important to also look at the following hormones:

Thyroid Hormones

If your thyroid isn’t functioning properly, you may feel really tired, especially in the morning. You may also notice that your hair and skin are really dry, you have unexplained weight gain, cold hands and feet and a lack of libido.

Adrenal/Stress Hormones

If you’re having problems with your adrenals (stress hormones), you may feel tired through the day, but more awake as you go to bed. You may also have trouble sleeping through the night, gain weight in the mid-section, feel unable to handle stress, have a sensitivity to light and cravings for salt or sugar.

Estrogen + Progesterone Hormones

If your estrogen/progesterone levels are not in a healthy range throughout the month, you may notice a severe dip in energy at certain times every month. It’s normal to want to rest a bit more when you’re menstruating, but if you feel a huge dip in energy before, during or after your period that is accompanied by cramps, irritability, tender breasts or heavy bleeding, your hormone levels may be imbalanced.

Although we have been conditioned to think we need to suffer through PMS every month, we actually don’t. You weren’t cursed with bad hormones – most of us were just never taught to care for them correctly.

If any of the above resonates with you and you feel like your lack of energy could be due to imbalance hormones, you’ll definitely want to check out the free Hormone + Metabolism Reboot workshop below.

And if you want to really get to the root cause of why you don’t have energy, I also offer free metabolic breakthrough calls where dive deep into your metabolic markers and lay out a plan for you to feel energized again.