Can Supplements Help Boost Your Energy -Part Two

Last week I gave some information on supplements that may help you get an energy boost. With today’s hurried lifestyles we need all the energy we can get!

Here are some other substances that may affect energy metabolism:

• Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) - is the vital nutrient that initiates energy production at the cellular level that powers the heart and acts as a powerful antioxidant when combined with vitamin E. It plays a vital role in health maintenance. It contributes to a healthy cardiovascular system, periodontal health, healthy blood sugar levels, and maintenance of cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations.

• B vitamins, like vitamin B6, vitamin B12, folic acid, thiamine, niacian- these are necessary to take because they are water soluble and our bodies do not produce them. They help decrease stress and improve mood, and maintain healthy levels of serotonin.

• Creatine, carnitine - might actually decrease athletic performance in longer-term physical activity and carries some risk. Some experts say it can interfere with sweating, thus contributing to dehydration, muscle strain, and cramps.

Deficiencies in these vitamins are common. People who are deficient in CoQ10 and B vitamins can definitely benefit from taking supplements. Who is likely to be deficient? Athletes who push themselves hard might be depleted in these nutrients. Also, people who have poor diets or take regular medications, such as acid blockers, anti-inflammatories, antibiotics, blood pressure, cholesterol lowering medication and several more can become deficient.

Also, we can no longer get all the vitamins in our foods any longer since our soil is depleted, and pesticides and chemicals have been added to our fruits, vegetables and meats. Not to mention the poor diet most Americans have.

Some other energy supplements that are popular with my clients are Mochatonix which contains an ingredient – Advantra Z. When combined with exercise, can help to the body burn fat, build lean muscle mass, and increase physical performance. Not only does it provide additional energy, it can help the body use more efficiently the energy stored in fat.

In conclusion, there is a lot to learn about supplementation and how it can truly help you feel more energetic and stay healthy.

Can Supplements Help Boost Your Energy

Energy supplements have become one of the most popular categories of supplements. It seems like everyone these days needs an energy boost. Hectic lifestyles seem to be one of the main reasons for lack of energy and a desire for something that can help.

But do they work? Some energy supplements may help but you need to know what you are looking for. Otherwise, supplements you buy could just leave you hundreds of dollars poorer and no less sluggish.

Here is some information that may help guide you to the supplements that can benefit you the most. It’s also important to get advice from a physician who has been educated on supplementation:

To help break it down, I will divide these energy supplement ingredients into three categories:

1. Stimulants – Can help rev up the metabolism. Here are lists of energy supplements which contain these:

• Caffeine - is a common ingredient in just about any product marketed for energy, while an energy drink might have 20 other ingredients, the one you really feel is likely to be caffeine. Caffeine can step up your metabolism and can even give you greater mental clarity. Although, most experts say to have no more than 2 cups a day.

• Herbal sources of caffeine and related compounds like guarana, yerba mate, and kola nut

• Green tea (also a source of caffeine) - also provides a related compound, theophylline, as well as the antioxidant epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). Possibly, because of these specific compounds, green tea may have unique effects on mental and physical energy.

• Capsaicin (red pepper) - the ingredient that makes chili peppers hot; is sometimes used for its alleged stimulant properties, but more for a metabolic boost than for improvements in physical or mental energy.

• Asian Ginseng - is not a caffeine derivative, but it may also serve as a mild stimulant. There is some scientific research that shows it can have positive effects on psychological and physical health.

• Bitter Orange (specifically, the ingredient synephrine) – is an extract from the rind of a different citrus species than that used for classic orange juice, is another energy supplement unrelated to caffeine. Though it has not been studied much, some experts fear there could be some risks taking it. Its active ingredient- synephrine is chemically similar to ephedrine which was pulled off the market in 2004 because of some serious health risks.

For lack of space, I will need to continue the other categories next week. The bottom line: Will these supplements boost energy? Yes, stimulants like these most likely will rev up your metabolism temporarily, but the key is eating healthy, exercising as well as taking a superior line of supplements.

Don’t Make a Resolution – Make a Lifestyle Change!

It’s that time of year again when many of us makes a resolution to lose weight and live healthier- but why don’t these resolutions last? In this article I will give you a few reasons why resolutions to lose weight don’t work.

1. Diets don’t work. Diets are a temporary way of life. On the quest to lose weight many people try quick fix diets such as, shakes, low calorie foods, fad diets, health clubs and other weight loss attempts. Being overweight is like wearing a bull’s eye — you are a target for companies trying to make money from your condition. Restrictive diets do not work; you must make a lifestyle change.

"Lifestyle change will work if you have realistic expectations, good support, and choose a plan that you can stick with -- a plan that will give you moderate change over a long time Fernstrom tells WebMD.

2. Behaviors do not change automatically. Instead of riding the diet roller coaster up and down, you need to make a constant effort to change. If you don’t change your lifestyle behaviors, don’t expect to achieve or maintain a healthy weight. That is why most diet plans don’t work; you are not taught how to eat for a lifetime, change your behavior or incorporate exercise.

3. Diet is affected by social issues. This happens when you are with your family and friends. In the American setting, unhealthy eating and dietary patterns is often encouraged. This makes it very difficult to keep healthy lifestyle changes going. Don’t allow others to discourage you and cause you to give up; keep your focus to accomplish what you set out to, no matter the cost.

4. Lack of accountability. Many people try to reach their weight loss goals on their own. Usually, they quickly give up because no one is there to inspire or encourage them to press past the challenges. Having a coach is crucial for success. Just as a good coach helps their team win the game with education, encouragement and inspiration, so a Lifestyle Coach can help you achieve your goals of weight-loss and a healthy lifestyle

It’s time for a different approach. It’s time to find the answer that’s right for you. That answer is making a lifestyle change that will last, not a temporary solution that will fail. Start with a positive attitude and determination to stop the diet roller coaster!