Stay Energized

Are you having one of those days? You woke up totally tired- all you want is to go back to sleep. It's 11:00 a.m., and you're half way through your third cup of coffee.

Maybe you can't define energy, but you know when you have it. But if energy is the legal tender of life, many of us are overdrawn in our energy bank account. We've dipped into our reserve so repeatedly and stressed ourselves so much that we're plainly energy depleted.

Stinting on sleep is the main cause of fatigue in America. Stress, poor eating habits, over reliance on sweets and too little physical activity all contribute to tiredness. And, of course, there are medical reasons for fatigue. Arthritis, heart disease, obesity, depression and cancer also diminish energy.

Simply defined, energy is the capacity to do work. If your energy is sagging, likely you are suffering from adrenal exhaustion. The adrenal glands produce hormones that help regulate energy levels. One secret to maintaining high energy is to use herbal medicines to improve the function of the adrenals and other hormone-producing (endocrine) glands. I'll blog soon about some energizing herbs.

In the meantime, take a look at your lifestyle. Increasingly, we are seeing scientific studies that demonstrate the need for deep, regular sleep and a healthy life. One of my colleagues calls this a "tonic lifestyle."

Here are some tips for keeping your energy up:
• Eat a diet of whole, unrefined, nutrient packed foods.
• Eat when you are hungry.
• Eat at regular times each day.
• Develop a sleep routine and stick to it. If you need an herbal sleep aid, use it.
• Allow enough time for enough deep sleep that you awaken refreshed every day.
• Over the long haul, use stamina enhancing tonic herbs to support all your body systems.