Easy Energy Boosters

Iron carries oxygen around the body and is a vital part of your immune system, which keeps you from getting tired. Get plenty of iron in your diet by eating meat, fish, seafood, breakfast cereals, beans, lentils and chicken. When you eat non-meat sources of iron, have some vitamin C (e.g. example, citrus fruits, potatoes, broccoli, kiwi fruit) with your meal to help you absorb more iron. Also, avoid phytates, which are found in bran and polyphenols, which are found in coffee and tea foods - these block absorption of iron. Remember if you’re vegetarian or pregnant you need extra iron.

Get some iodine into you. Iodine is required to make thyroid hormones, which help control energy metabolism, and make you feel energised and alert. Boost your iodine levels by using iodised salt (but don’t use too much) and eat/drink low fat milk products, sea food, eggs, fish, and seaweed.

Thiamine is a vitamin that the body uses to help it extract energy from the food and drink you consume. Eat meat, liver, fish, eggs, whole grains, leafy green vegetables, and legumes to boost your thiamine levels. 

 

If this doesn’t work for you, then please see a doctor. They can run blood tests to check for indicators that will suggest why you are feeling tired and give you advice based on their results.

 

Food gives you energy, which is needed to help your body function correctly and make you feel energised. Eat regular meals and snacks when you’re hungry to help you get through the day. Some tasty but healthy snacks might include; fresh fruit, nuts, whole grain crackers, carrot sticks with hummus, cottage cheese and tomato on crackers, sliced apple and low fat yoghurt.

This sounds obvious but if you lack sleep you will feel tired and low in energy. Try to get at least eight hours of sleep per night and make sure you sleep on a bed that’s right for you. Although in saying this, some people can survive on less sleep than others, so it really up to you to get as much sleep as you need to function properly. If you do have problems sleeping there are few ways that you may be able to help this, such as making your bedroom just a place for sleeping, that is don’t watch TV or read in bed, and avoiding caffeine and exercise just before bed. If this doesn’t help, have a chat with your doctor and they should be able to help you.

 

Sunlight influences your melatonin levels. Melatonin is a hormone that signals to your brain that you need to sleep. Melatonin levels increase as the day darkens, but decreases when you are exposed to light. According to a study, getting about 20 minutes of sunlight can make you feel more alert and awake.