Being On Your Toes - Morning To Night
If we define Energy it would simply mean, ‘the capacity for doing work’. While it exists in many forms such as kinetic, thermal, electrical, chemical, and many more, our body primarily operates on chemical energy. Like many vehicles that run on petroleum, the fuel that keeps our bodies running is called ‘Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP)’.
It’s a fundamental law of science that, ‘energy can neither be created or destroyed but can only be transformed from one form to another.’ So how does energy get transferred into our body and is later converted into ATP that will charge our bodies to function? Let’s find out!
As for humans, and almost every other living organism, energy is primarily derived from food. That’s the basics. Our body uses proteins, carbohydrates and fats to generate energy which is commonly measured in calories. These energy substances then move to three different chemical systems in our body that generate energy; they’re called i) The ATP-PC energy system (ii) The Anaerobic Glycolysis system (iii) The Aerobic energy system.
The above mentioned was an example of chemical energy which our body produces but, there are other classifications of energy which we use in our day to day life, such as, physical energy, emotional energy, mental energy and spiritual energy. And while all our activities directly depend upon energy, let’s take a look at how we can stay energetic everyday.
How To Stay Energetic Everyday :
Let’s be honest, it’s a challenge sometimes, or for some people many times, to work and make it till the end of the day. This mainly happens due to lack of energy and while this hinders our important tasks and makes us feel like a loser; we can actually try a few tricks to stay energetic all day, everyday.
1. NEVER, NEVER skip your breakfast
Having a proper breakfast can be an effective and even a delicious way in keeping your energy levels up throughout the day. Indulge in a protein rich breakfast and even some whole grains as they take a while to break down into energy. Also, protein can be very efficient to boost concentration and productivity. You can also try a wholesome snack during the evening to power up your energy levels.
2. Exercise
Exercise can be a great energy booster since it elevates mood-lifting endorphins and even makes our immune system and metabolism better. Not just that, it helps you strengthen your muscle strength and endurance. Even if your exercise routine has a daily small walk, it will recharge your body and will preserve your energy till the evening.
3. Multivitamins can help
Constant or day time fatigue can be a result of vitamin and iron deficiencies or anemia which can easily be treated with a multivitamin. Talk to your doctor and see if this can work out for you. There can be other medical conditions that lead to day time fatigues which must be looked after.
4. Try a power nap
While a long nap during the day can make you lazy and disrupt your sleeping pattern during the night, a short power nap can recharge your body and make you more alert to complete tasks till a later hour. A 20-30 minutes nap in the afternoon is considered ideal to charge your body and refresh your system.
5. Don’t overdose on Caffeine
Caffeine can be great when you need a sudden dose of energy but it’s not a good idea to consume caffeine if you’re planning to preserve your energy till the evening. Because it makes us even more tired than before when it wears off. If you consume your cup of coffee or tea at start of the day, it can help you gain a good start but, it’s not recommended to consume caffeine post 7PM or 8PM if you want to have a good night’s sleep, as it will still be in your system, hindering the REM sleep.
6. Stay hydrated
Dehydration can be an underlying cause of fatigue. As the doctors suggest, make sure you consume 8 glasses of water everyday for a number of health benefits including a higher level of energy. Starting your day with a big glass of water will help you kickstart your metabolism hence, energy levels in your body.