When you feel tired and low, you turn to a hot cup of freshly brewed coffee to give you the much-needed energy to start the day. Though it may give you a rush of energy, it is usually only short lived. After a few hours, you can’t help but crave for some more. This may not seem like a big issue to you as you can easily refuel with another cup from a wide range of coffee shops found on almost every corner. But what if you feel jittery and edgy each time you drink your “miracle energy elixir?” You may feel edgy when your adrenals and nervous system cannot cope with the excess stimulation. This is because caffeine, the main component of coffee that boosts your energy, is a strong nervous system stimulant.
Stimulating your central nervous system makes you feel jittery and shaky and eventually leads to a burnout. So, you will fall into this endless cycle of stimulation, overstimulation, and exhaustion. In the end, your body will start craving for more and more caffeine to combat the fatigue when your energy runs out. Fortunately, there are healthy, nourishing herbs, roots, barks, and berries that give you the energy to get through the day without hampering your central nervous system. You can choose from any of the following energizing herbs to replace your morning cup of coffee with.
1. Tongkat Ali Root
Tongkat Ali Root, or Eurycoma longifolia, is a perfect remedy for you if stress is what is making you feel low. It can significantly improve your mood and reduce your tension when you take it on a regular basis. You can take it as a supplement to combat the effects of daily stressors. It also frees testosterone and boosts your libido.
2. Yerba Mate
You can brew a cup of yerba mate tea from the dried leaves of the Ilex paraguariensis plant to enhance your vitality. It is better than green tea as it contains more antioxidants and boosts your metabolism and physical performance.
3. Rhodiola Rosea
The strong and mighty Vikings used Rhodiola rosea for strength and endurance. So, you can definitely give it a try to boost your energy levels and physical durability. Brewing and drinking it on a regular basis can enhance your performance, speed up workout recovery, lower inflammation of different parts of your body, boost your mood, and improve fatigue caused by stress.
4. Maca Root
Maca root is well known for its ability to boost libido and energy. It also improves mental function, memory, physical performance, and learning, enhances fertility, and protects your skin from the damaging effects of sunlight. It is also an adaptogen, which means it promotes the physiological processes of your body and promotes homeostasis, which reduces your cellular sensitivity to stress.
5. Schizandra Berry
Schizandra is a herbal adaptogen. It energizes you, improves your overall vitality, and helps your body adapt to stress and helps resist fatigue. It is also a strong antioxidant and it increases your mental performance, endurance, and reaction time. It also protects against stress from exposure to toxic heavy metals, irradiation, and heat shock.
6. Gingko Biloba
Gingko biloba is obtained from the leaves of the Chinese gingko tree and is commonly referred to as the brain herb. It not only boosts your energy but supports brain function, improves memory and focus, and is widely used to treat disorders like Alzheimer’s disease.
If you want to boost your energy levels naturally, you can incorporate some form of physical exercise into your daily routine apart from taking these herbs. It will increase your metabolism by strengthening your muscles. Also, make sure you sleep well each night to avoid feeling groggy the next day.
