We talk about energy a lot around here. That’s because feeling energized and enthusiastic about life takes a lot more than just having extra calories available. In truth when we use the word ‘energy’ to describe a feeling of being energized, feeling well, and being excited about the day when we get up in the morning we are talking about your overall health.
In order to feel energetic your tissues, organs, and systems need to be in good physical condition. If you have an injury, it can leave you bedridden. You can be full of energy, but if your back is all jammed up you would never say you feel energetic. Then, you need to be in good metabolic shape. Your cells need to be converting food into energy in an effective way.
What we’re getting at is the fact that in order to have the energy you need to build a foundation for good health, the only way to do that is through good nutrition. Now, when it comes to nutrition, you hear a lot of people say “right nutrition” or “optimal nutrition” but that’s misleading. It is the kind of thing that makes you think of yourself as being like a car. You are not a car. There is no one “high octane fuel” for your body.
What the body needs is to be inundated with a wide variety of high-quality nutrients. You need healthy fats, green leafy veggies, and much more. You also need to get in the habit of doing your own cooking and shunning prepackaged, processed foods. Now, that can get to feel like a chore after a while. What you need is an easy way to get a wide range of high-quality nutrients into your food easily. For that we recommend herbs.
We also recommend pronouncing it fully, because there’s a freaking ‘h’ in it.
Herbs have special, and sometimes potent, medical qualities that are very useful at different times. Oregano, for example, is great for killing germs and boosting immunity. Make a strong oregano tea to clear up a sore throat. Basil has wonderful anti-inflammatory qualities. Use it in cooking to reduce bloating. If you have an itchy rash or a lot of mosquito bites, boil basil in water and rub the tea onto the affected area. The bumps will shrink and the itching will be reduced. That’s just to show you how potent herbs can be.
Now on to our top five herbs for supercharging your metabolism, loading up on healthy energy, and feeling great.
5 Herbs That Help Boost Energy
Dandelion root (Taraxacum Officinale)
If you’re a big coffee drinker and your habit is getting a bit out of hand, tea made from dandelion root is an ideal alternative. Dandelions are a major player in Chinese medicine and are known for their ability to boot toxins out of your system. Because it is a diuretic like caffeine, it also boosts mood and gives you that energetic kick you enjoy.
Red Clover (Trifolium Pratense)
Known since the days of ancient Egypt for its ability to purify the blood. Red clover boosts liver function and cleans up the lymphatic system. That means it can help you to avoid some very pernicious forms of a certain disease that if we claim to have a cure for the medical-pharmacological complex will drop an airplane engine on our office. Let’s just say it’s a real C-word of a disease.
Ginger (Zingiber Officinale)
Good old ginger makes everything taste better. It is also great for your circulatory system, and like basil, it contains a potent anti-inflammatory agent. Ginger can also be used as a pain reliever and helps produce digestive enzymes. Win-win.
Ginseng (Panax Ginseng)
Famous for its brain-boosting abilities, ginseng is a potent stimulant that also has the ability to help your nervous system adapt to stress. If you want to boost productivity and gain the ability to function in demanding environments, ginseng is for you.
Peppermint (Mentha Piperita)
If you’re trying to push through a big project or do some last minute studying- the best thing you can do is go back in time and manage your schedule better. But if time displacement technology is beyond your reach, you can use peppermint oil to focus and get more focused activity in the time you have. Oh, it’s also effective as an antispasmodic, an antimicrobial, and an anti-inflammatory agent.
Best of all, there’s no small print because these natural medicines have precisely ZERO side effects… if you’re into that sort of thing.
