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How’s your energy? If you’re feeling fatigued and overwhelmed, it’s time to recommit to healthy living practices that boost vitality and help you thrive. Here are three ways to bring more energy into your mind, your body and your life—naturally!
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Instagram: @kripalucenter | kripalu.org
Everything Green!
Green foods, green herbs, green sea vegetables—plants with the deepest green give us the most energy.Try collard greens, sea greens like kombu and wakame, and green peas. Collard greens are a leafy green vegetable that belongs to the Brassica family, a group of vegetables that includes cabbage, kale and brussels sprouts. Collards are considered a nutritional superstar, rich in phytonutrients, vitamins and minerals. Steam or sauté collards with garlic and extra virgin olive oil, drizzle with lemon juice and enjoy a boost of energy for the rest of your day. Sea vegetables contain significant amounts of protein, in addition to vitamins A, B, C and E. Kombu and wakame are excellent foods to support vitality and have been used for centuries as a digestive aid when served with beans, legumes or tofu. Soak the dried kombu in cold water for an hour and add it to soups or stir-fries at the end of the cooking process. You can also add dried sea vegetables to bean or tofu salads to up your nutrient intake of manganese—an important mineral for energy production in the mitochondria, the powerhouse of our cells.
Nettle Power
The nettle (Urtica dioica) is an herb that strengthens and supports the whole body and increases energy by nourishing the adrenal glands. Throughout Europe, nettle tea is used as a general detoxifying remedy. To make an infusion of nettles, pour a cup of boiling water onto two teaspoons of the dried herb and leave covered to infuse for 10 to 15 minutes. Strain and drink. One to three cups of nettle tea taken daily for four to six weeks can nourish even the most depleted nervous and immune systems due to its high content of calcium, magnesium, iron and vitamin C.
Essential Aromas
The uplifting scent of pure, invigorating essential oils can be just as enlivening as coffee in the morning! Essential oil of basil (Ocimum basilicum) is one of the most useful oils for relieving mental fatigue. Inhaled using a vaporizer or a tissue, two to three drops gives the mind strength and clarity. Basil stimulates and supports the body’s energy levels and fights weariness, colds and depression. Lime (Citrus medica) is another useful oil known for its restorative and tonic properties. Inhaling lime oil is refreshing, uplifting and ideal for fatigue, especially when that fatigue is accompanied by anxiety or apathy. Try these all-natural, plant-based energy tonics and enjoy your life even more!
