All I Want For Christmas… Is An Energy Boost

All I Want For Christmas… Is An Energy Boost

Parties, shopping, holiday planning – with the hectic festive season upon us, it’s common to start feeling a little run-down. These top tips can ensure you end your year on a high, ready to welcome the new year with plenty of energy.

1. Break the Fast 

Breaking your overnight fast with food is vital for keeping your energy levels up during the day, as a healthy breakfast replenishes your supply of glucose – and also provides other essential nutrients required for energy production. A healthy breakfast is one that includes protein (such as nuts, eggs or yoghurt), some slowly digested carbohydrates (like wholegrain breads or cereals), and some fruit or vegetables.

 

2. Power Down  

Cornell University social psychologist James Maas coined the term ‘power nap’ to describe a short sleep intended to quickly revitalise the subject. According to the National Sleep Foundation, 20 minutes is the sweet spot for nap length if you want to wake feeling alert, cheerful, and productive. If that doesn’t sound long enough, a 90-minute nap gives you enough time for a complete, creativity- building sleep cycle – but beware, anything between 30-60 minutes is likely to leave you feeling worse.

 

3. Get Moving 

A study by the University of Georgia (UGA) found evidence that regular exercise plays a role in increasing energy levels and reducing fatigue.1 “A lot of times when people are fatigued, the last thing they want to do is exercise,” said professor Patrick O’Connor, co-director of the UGA Exercise Psychology Laboratory. “But if you’re physically inactive and fatigued, being just a bit more active will help.” The reason exercise is so effective in boosting energy is that it increases the levels of energy- promoting and mood-enhancing neurotransmitters – including dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin.

Woman drinking water

4. Recognise Thirst 

Before you reach for another coffee to give you a buzz, drink a glass of water – as thirst, even mild dehydration, can also masquerade as fatigue. Research published in the The Journal of Nutrition showed that people who weren’t sufficiently hydrated scored lower on questionnaires assessing mood.2 They also reported feeling that it was harder to get work done on the days they were dehydrated – and had more headaches, fatigue and confusion than they did on the day they were sufficiently hydrated.

 

5. Protein Hit 

If you feel your energy levels taking a nose-dive, try not to reach for a sugary snack – as it will only provide a short-term boost. Opt instead for a protein snack, which will boost your energy for longer. A handful of nuts, plain yoghurt with fresh fruit, or vegetable sticks with hummus are all great options for a quick yet healthy snack.

 

6. Charge Cells 

Your entire body is made of cells, so if you want more energy it makes sense to help energy production within your cells, and this occurs in your mitochondria. MitoQ is the only supplement in the world that’s able to get through into mitochondria at significant levels to help. MitoQ is a modified form of the antioxidant ubiquinol (CoQ10) that’s able to pass through the tough mitochondrial membrane, where it helps optimise the energy production process, helps keep free radicals under control, and supports organ function, mental focus and overall wellbeing.

Fuelling Your Body’s Power Plants

Mitochondria are tiny power plants that exist in almost all of our body’s cells. They combine the food we eat with the oxygen we breathe, and turn this into the fuel our cells need to work properly. They are essential to our health and wellbeing. When we are young and healthy, our mitochondria work at maximum efficiency – giving our cells the energy they need. We can run, jump, fall and get back up again. We bounce back quickly from injuries and illnesses. However, as we get older, mitochondria can naturally start to decline in function. Mitochondria can slow down due to age, illness and lifestyle factors, exposing them to excess free radicals – a by-product of the energy production process. An excess of free radicals can cause damage to the delicate equipment inside your cells. Mitochondria work very hard to help keep free radicals at manageable levels, producing an antioxidant called CoQ10 to help neutralise them and prevent them from escaping into the cell. But over time, as a result of their efforts, mitochondria start to suffer from wear and tear – and when they slow down, so can you. You can support your mitochondria by sustaining a healthy level of antioxidants inside your mitochondria, as well as helping to limit free radical damage. MitoQ takes a shortened version of CoQ10 and gives it a positive charge, so it’s instantly attractive to the negatively charged mitochondria and is able to pass directly through the mitochondrial membrane.

The mitochondria use MitoQ to help re-line the mitochondrial membrane, helping to support its structural integrity and the defensive barrier. When your cells have all the energy they need, they are better able to do all the jobs they are tasked with. And when your cells are revitalised, re-energised and resilient, so are you.

For more information, visit mitoq.com

Vitamins and minerals are supplementary to, and not a replacement for, a balanced diet. Always read the label and use as directed. If symptoms persist, see your healthcare professional. MitoQ Ltd, Auckland. TAPS PP4806

1 ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18277063

2 ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/PMC3553795

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