9 Easy Ways to Boost Your Energy

Boosting your energy doesn't have to cost a lot or feel like work. Just by learning a few simple tricks you can have a great impact on your energy for the rest of your life.

1. Start the day out with the juice of one lemon squeezed into pure water. Not only do lemons contain over 20 anti-cancer compounds, they help to quickly restore your body's pH.  While lemons are acidic, when the juice is metabolized with water, it alkalizes your body to help reduce pain or headaches, improve your energy levels, and optimize your body's natural enzyme processes.

2.  Eat fresh fruit. Fresh fruit is packed with vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients, and of course, enzymes. We tend to deplete our bodies' own stores of enzymes by overeating and eating primarily cooked or processed foods.  Adding fresh, raw fruit allows your body to divert its own digestive energy to other functions in your body.  When eaten on an empty stomach the fruit passes through your digestive system quickly to provide you with a quick boost of energy.  Don't overdo on extremely sweet fruit like pineapples or bananas if you're trying to lose weight.

3.  Snack on raw, soaked nuts and seeds throughout the day. By soaking raw nuts for at least an hour (but preferably overnight) and then draining them, you help to quash enzyme inhibitors found in nuts while increasing the nutrient-content. Soaking them increases their water content and digestibility, helping to make sure your body can assimilate their rich calcium, magnesium, zinc and Omega 3 fatty acid stores. Nuts also make a great snack because they help to keep blood sugar levels stable and that means weight loss, greater energy and balanced moods for you.

4.  Keep a tray of crudités (raw veggie sticks) to snack on or add to your meals. You'll be far more likely to eat them on a regular basis if they are already cleaned, cut, and ready to go.  Raw veggies are loaded with vitamins, minerals and enzymes.

5.  Eat a large raw salad at a minimum of one meal a day. That doesn't include iceberg lettuce topped with a starchy tomato. I'm talking about a large green salad, either Romaine, mesclun mix or your favorite greens—just be sure they are actually green. But your salad doesn't have to be a boring plate of greens. Top with some fresh berries, garlic and ginger crisps, brown rice noodles, salsa, roasted vegetables or raw walnuts. I've observed many converts go from salad haters to salad lovers with a little creativity and some delicious recipes.  And greens are among the most nutrient-dense food you can eat so it's worth the effort.

6.  Sip fresh juice. Enjoy a smoothie made with fresh fruit and almond milk. Drink a freshly-made veggie and carrot juice between meals. It's easier and more delicious than you think to drink fresh juices. Once you get in the habit of having fresh juice, you'll never want packaged or concentrated juices again. The added energy they'll give you over time will be reward for the minimal effort required to make them.

7.  Make a salad smoothie. Sounds disgusting but you'll be surprised how delicious, filling and nutritious this power drink can be. Toss a large handful of mild greens like Boston lettuce, Romaine lettuce or spinach along with berries, frozen banana, almond milk or other smoothie ingredients and blend for an instant "green drink" and salad. I opt for a salad smoothie when I'm pressed for time or am just feeling a little lazy and want my salad in a hurry.

8.  Add sprouts to salads, wraps, sandwiches, noodles or stir-fries after they've finished cooking. Sprouts are diverse and versatile.  They are nutrient- and enzyme-powerhouses, giving your body a serious boost when eaten on a regular basis.  If you don't like one kind, try another.  There are many different varieties, including but not limited to:  mung bean, onion, broccoli, alfalfa and red clover. Sprouts are serious energy-boosting superfoods.

9.  Eat only until you are full. For many people eating has become a pastime rather than something to nourish their appetites and bodies. Reducing the amount you eat may increase longevity. Research shows that even slightly restricting caloric intake increases the lifespan of laboratory animals so this benefit may transfer to humans as well. Eat until you feel full but not heavy. It may take some time to adjust to this concept. Most people eat until they are bloated and heavy feeling and mistake that as feeling "full." Stop well before that. You'll use a lot less energy to eat only until you are full than you would if you keep on eating.  And that frees up energy for other things.  That doesn't mean you should starve yourself, go hungry, or use this advice as an excuse to support an eating disorder. Snack later if you become hungry again, but pay attention to your body's signals, not just to your eyes and taste buds.